Requiem

Requiem is a UK based supernatural mystery thriller. Its "by the numbers" stuff with more than a few well worn tropes on offer. The result is a series that works but it remains predictable fair that's on the cusp of being cliched.

What saves Requiem to a good degree is its a little "off beat". Putting aside the "Children of the Corn" all grown up look of the main character Matilda, there's some real depth and quirks to her character and the rest of the cast. This tends of successfully sideline the more obvious plot twists and turns, engaging the viewer with the characters on an emotional and personal level.

I will add that this is a "slow burn" thriller so it wont satisfy the impatient. That said, as it stands, Requiem has enough human interest elements including strong characterisations and narrative, plus well structured storytelling, to qualify as a decent, if not exceptional, short series. Eight out of ten from me.

Tired of people writing reviews that analyze and pick apart every damn aspect of a movie, pretending to be artistic scholars. If you are like me and just enjoy a distraction every now and then, binge on this series when you have an xtra 6 hours. It was enjoyable...not a work of art...enjoyable. All the wanna-be critics out there...RELAX!

I had high hopes for this mini-series, the eeriness and uncertainty from the first episode and the many unanswered questions opening for a story. Sadly, that strength gradually dribbled out. The characters were written to be shallow and unlikable and the acting from Lydia Wilson (who plays Matilda) was stiff which made for a difficult watch. The main storyline was what kept me interested, but I felt almost bored in some of the episodes from the way it was executed. Finally, when the plot was revealed I almost felt cheated, as if the writers couldn't think of anything better to solve the riddle. This was only heightened in the last episode and how it played out. Not one of BBC's best.

I don't understand all of the negativity in the reviews. I couldn't stop watching until I finished all 6 episodes. If you are looking for a nightmare inducing show this isn't it. It's more of a mystery/thriller. The ending was a little unsatisfying especially if it doesn't get picked up for a second season. The music that most reviews are complaining about is a requiem. (The title of the show should have given that away.) If there is a second season someone please give Matilda a decent haircut. The one she has now looks like a 5 year old cut it with a pair of safety scissors.

I am very impressed by so much of the drama content coming from the BBC, this and Hard Sun show the Organisation's willingness to try something different, I love the constant psychological dramas and cop shows, but a change in tone is very welcome. Very creepy, very suspenseful, it felt like a drama that was penned for the BBC in the 1970's and given up to date acting, music and production values, the seventies was littered with awesome ghost stories, a genre that seems to have been sadly abandoned in recent times, who doesn't love a Ghost Story? So often ghost stories disappoint, but Requiem manages not only to look great, but it actually has some excellent content too, it gets better as it goes along. Very well acted, Lydia Wilson, Joel Fry and Brendan Coyle all stood out for me, as did Claire Rushbrook's very good Welsh accent.