Savage River

I came to rate this show right after the final episode aired for the first time and was shocked to see only a 6.4 rating.

What do people want?

This show was well written and very well acted; stand out performances from Virginia Gay (who isn't even listed in "top cast" section despite her leading role) and Jaqueline McKenzie among many other fine performances makes this show is compelling viewing in my opinion.

I don't really understand how this has such a low rating. I really enjoyed it and I think if given a chance many other people will too. What does it take to get more than a pass mark?

Do people not want gripping, well made, well performed Australian made drama??

It seemed to me that SAVAGE RIVER was trying to create a Scandinavian-type dark crime story. The impressive opening titles certainly gave me that impression. But, for me, it didn't live up to that expectation.

The story is about Miki Anderson, who returns to her hometown in rural Tasmania after serving a 15-year prison sentence for murder. She is determined to put her life back together and figure out who she is on the outside. But her presence dredges up long-held secrets from the past and Miki realizes everything she thought she knew was wrong.

The show is set in the present day, but it has a timeless feel to it. The pacing is slow and deliberate, and the cinematography is beautiful. The problem is that the story is just not that interesting. It plods along and takes ages to go anywhere. And the ending was anti-climactic.

So, while I appreciate the effort that went into making this show, I can't say that I would recommend it.

Engrossing, quiet, almost Altmanesque whodunit that weaves an intricate web of criss-crossing, interconnected characters: it seems everyone is related to, or at the very least knows, everyone else in the small Australian town called Savage River. The very beautiful Katherine Langford is the nominal lead, but it's really an ensemble piece. I was kept guessing about its twin mysteries - past and present. Its only real flaw - and it's a trend I notice in more and more TV series lately - is that it's too long; it probably should have been a 2-hour movie, and would have worked better that way. *** out of 4.

The style of this miniseries is to be dropped into a situation with no context or information. We start with following along a young woman who is just getting out of prison on parole and apparently returns to the very small hometown she started out in as a young girl. Plot unrolling happens by character discovery and interactions, as well as the art of deciphering any kind of relationships and who's who. Information is slow to be had, and we don't really know what kind of a person she is or anything that has happened to develop her, inside of prison or out. The acting is decent enough, and there is some intensity which is a good start... even if fairly cliche for this storyline. Ultimately, if you find entertainment in series such as Rectify or the recent Sandra Bullock movie The Unforgivable, then I think this is worth a look, although I don't think this Australian production will outmatch either of those in writing quality or casting. Personally, I'm looking forward to seeing it through.

Savage River was a brilliantly paced crime/drama with an incredible cast to back it up. From the outset, the plot line found a grounded feel, and escalated in a suspenseful, subversive manner.

The cinematography was stunning and shots pretty laconic. The soundscape behind it was charming no doubt.

Defiantly emblematic of regional Australia and thematically hit the nail on the head of many issues facing these townships.

The spoiler free ending was deeply satisfying - sticking the balance of answering as many questions as it perhaps raised. Really hopping that along with Mystery Road Origins, we see this renewed for another season.