Bloodlines

The production values of this made-for-TV movie are very much in keeping with much of contemporary UK TV drama, i.e. cheap, formulaic and dull. This is a shame as there is a quite interesting storyline underneath what is yet another uninspiring police drama. There many fine established actors here, who try their best, but struggle to make this movie believable. Emma Pierson and Max Beesley are reasonably convincing, but much of the rest of the cast seem like fish out of water in their roles. Perhaps they were miscast – or maybe misdirected, I'm not sure, but either way the effect is disappointing. Don't go out of your way to watch this one, but that said, it's an acceptable way to fill a couple of hours slumped in front of the TV, when your tired and feeling vegetative.

British mysteries are in every possible way superior to contemporary American crime drama. Average American TV show is usually filled with models who possess, at best, very limited acting ability and charisma of a turnip, that nobody can for a second, relate to. On the other hand, British mysteries are cast by very good actors, who actually look and behave like normal people. And as a cherry on a top, they do not try to dumb everything down, so that every dimwit doesn't feel left out in the end. " Bloodlines" is not the absolute best in this genre. It suffers from little confusion and lack of clarity, but in spite of that, it is still well worth seeing and enjoying.

Emma Pierson is a virtual unknown here in the US, which is unfortunate. She, along with the rest of the cast did a credible job, and the story line was plausible, as far as made for TV dramas go.

But...Bloodlines had some of the worst directing and camera work i've ever seen. The jerk blurry camera work really was distracting; it ruined all the good efforts that went into making this film.

I am always on the look out for good Brit film work, we don't see nearly enough of it here in the US. Unfortunately this one was off the mark.

I look forward to seeing Emma Pierson in better films.