Harper's Island

Harper's Island is a fun-to-watch and enjoyable limited series from 2009. The story is really a mix and resemblance of Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None" and the "Scream" franchise with too many twists and turns in each episode. It is fast-paced, suspenseful, and intriguing, with too many different characters and, of course, too many murders. This TV series's genre can be described as a teen slasher and thriller with some soap opera elements. Besides serial killings and horror elements, you can also watch too many betrayals, secret and extramarital relationships, some kinky master-slave sex games between some characters, and too many tragedies, secrets from the past, and dramas. Harper's Island also successfully and equally blends and presents likable, charming, and unlikeable, suspicious characters each episode. The script also gives you too many red herrings about characters, so this makes it difficult to guess who the actual killer is until the last episodes. Overall, it's not definitely an Emmy award-worthy TV show with some amateurish dialogues, so-so acting from some unknown TV actors, and nonsensical scenes that don't make too much sense. I'm sure some people find this TV series quite cheesy and corny, but overall it's ideal for binge-watching for a boring night with its intriguing premise, and I can recommend it to horror and thriller fans. I also like the gloomy island setting, which perfectly fits and elevates the general atmosphere and suspense.

When I saw the previews I was hooked, despite my reservations that it was being shown as a series. Usually there are tonnes of side plots and involvements that are so stupid that it takes away from the main plot. But one of the plus points for Harper's Island is that it stays true to the premise. The intrigue builds from the first episode with the first grisly death and then you start to try and figure out who the killer is. Is it John Wakefield, the original killer, or is there a new player? A copycat and pretender to the throne.

But then all the tension and terror that had been building with each episode unravels in episode twelve and completely undone by the thirteenth. In fact the last episode is a lesson in utter stupidity, something that would not be out of place in a soap opera or some teen series. Even the reason for all the killing are quite absurd, as if the script writers were so thrilled with coming up with the idea of the deaths that they must have looked at each other when it came time to justify the deaths and drawn a complete blank. Watching Harper's Island is very much like getting a huge shiny Christmas present and when you finally get past the wrappings and layers to the gift it's noting more than a gift card for stationary. I haven't felt this let down for a long time.

But this is my personal rant. I'd still recommend this for the first half of the series which was excellent in building tension. The setting's very creepy and it lends credence to the terror that the characters feel. Watch it at night for the full effect!

OK, so obviously not everyone has the same taste in movies and TV series as I do, and everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but I for one enjoy this show immensely! I think it's well directed, I like most of the characters, and those I don't like I love to hate.

Yes, there is less blood and gore than in your average horror show, but why bother with all that stuff when you can create the same suspense with well-planned plots and thorough story lines? You never know who is going to get murdered, when it will happen or who will find them, and everyone is as likely to be a suspect as anyone else... I love it! I think the casting crew has done a great job in selecting the actors, and I'm really looking forward to the rest of the season. I don't care WHAT else is on TV, I'm not missing a single episode! (Unless there is a Supernatural-special running at the same time ;o) )

Just watched this series over a couple of weeks and really quite enjoyed it for what it is. It's a bit like Scooby Doo really. Murders occur one by one and you are guessing who it could be. Don't take it seriously at all and it's a fun whodunnit. The setting of the island was good and added to the creepy atmosphere. It did keep you guessing and the ending was a surprise, whether you thought it plausible or not. Don't take it too seriously and it's enjoyable escapism. Apparently my review is too short so I'll have to continue! Acting abilities varied, but the leads were good and they all looked suitably terrified when necessary.

This series has moderate acting talent, a constraint that scenes need to be viewable on a mainstream channel, and a budget that doesn't allow much (any?) CGI.

It is about relatively attractive people dying 'one by one'.

So if this were a movie it would likely end up with a 5.2 rating.

Instead it is an entertaining series that very successfully keeps the basic premise ticking along nicely for thirteen episodes. There are sufficient plots twists and they keep flowing all the way through to the last episode.

In a series of this nature there is no point trying to plug EVERY possible hole in the script, but they do an admirable job. If you are prepared to go in with a positive viewpoint you will find this great fun.