Maelstrom

When I was a kid Norwegian Broadcasting used to send mini series of suspense, criminal mysteries and thrills during Easter, and I remember Maelstrom as one of them. I do not recall much of the plot and so on, but I have memories of single scenes that left me terrified and afraid of the dark for months. One of the most disturbing happened when a man went over to the solitary house on the island to investigate, and upon entering the room with all the dolls there was a woman standing behind the door. This woman was very scary. I do not know what here agenda was, but I do remember the whole house being burnt down. I am guessing that the insane female character did that. Although I was very young when I watched this, I do think it was quality TV.

This is SO scary! And will be in Finnish TV again at 2005 in "YLE-teema" after many years of waiting from 1985. I'm wondering if it is as good as I remember...

Feeling in the series is like in "twin peaks" at the first time, but lot better. Maybe the familiar nordic surroundings are one reason why it was so scary for me.

My mom didn't let me watch this, but my stepmother did, and I had nightmares for many years. Sometimes I woke up screaming "Ingrid!"

This is something that everybody should see. And if it has gone too old, somebody should do a new version.

I am only afraid, that everything in this series is boring nowadays cause every element in the series has been used and maybe done better after 1985.

I saw this mini series while I lived in Kuwait in 1989...I missed the end as I came back to the USA...It had bothered me for years on how the series ended and where I can get a DVD of it...I loved it! I have searched and searched the internet Long for Maelstrom...About 3 months ago I found the BBC CULT site..Thak goodness!! Can I write to the BBC to get a copy????

I found the series to be quite engrossing. It moved slow in the beginning, but after the first 2 airings I was completely into it. What was the significance of the dolls and what was the mystery? To this day in 2006 I am still wondering.

I watched this on TV back in 85, and later on when they did a re-run in the early nineties. I can safely say, no other thriller has made such an impact on me. The matters that are dealt with seems at first to be super-natural, but moves towards a scary insight of the disturbed human mind. The house on the island, the dolls and the woman in white standing at the balcony has burnt itself on my mind. However, the most chilling memory from the series is a very small but important moment in the first episode. The first appearance of Freya Jordahl on the coastal steamer. Creepy indeed. As a Norwegian, I do get annoyed by the moments of "visit-norway" footage, and Tusse Sliberg is at best stiff as Catherine Durell. But the basic mood of the series is so disturbing that it crawls under your skin. It is a thriller so intense you will never forget it, and with very little visual horror. What you don't see is the frightening part.. Special mentioning to the performances of Ann Todd and Susan Gilmore. Brilliant ! And there is of course Edita Brychta. Certainly among the most beautiful actresses ever, really ! ! BBC- we need this on DVD, please, please !!!

In 1985, Maelstrom was sent on Norwegian TV during Easter, and the filming location was in the city of Ålesund and its surrounding. I lived in Ålesund as a student in the mid 80's and watched it, and therefore enjoyed the familiar scenery.

Now in 2007 I bought Maelstrom on DVD and saw it again, for the first time in 22 years!

And I really liked it! The plot is good, building up the tense excitement during the six episodes. Most of the actors are English, and it is fun to listen when they try to speak Norwegian :-)

But anyway, it is a good thriller with an ending many of you could see coming up.

And of course the beautiful scenery of Ålesund is an extra bonus.

Recommended!