Month: March 2020

“Valhalla Murders”—The House of the Dead

Written by Diana Paul on March 30, 2020. Posted in movie reviews, Television reviews. 2 Comments on “Valhalla Murders”—The House of the Dead

Kudos to Netflix for another great Nordic noir production. In this eight-episode series, Netflix’s first Icelandic co-production, we have a crime thriller about a gruesome serial killer whose murders go back over thirty-five years. Valhalla Murders is actually based upon a series of murders that took place in Reykjavik. There is some...

The Stranger–or Estranged

Written by Diana Paul on March 25, 2020. Posted in movie reviews.

Another series to binge during this C-virus pandemic is Netflix’s The Stranger. Produced by Harlan Coben and based on his novel of the same name, this newly released British series opens with a teenage drug fest complete with bonfire and more than a few hints of mayhem. Part mystery, but most of all, family drama...

“Earthquake Bird”—An Unpredictable Flight

Written by Diana Paul on March 15, 2020. Posted in movie reviews. 1 Comment on “Earthquake Bird”—An Unpredictable Flight

Based on the titular novel by Susanna Jones, Earthquake Bird was released in November 2019. A psychological thriller with film noir features reminding this viewer of Alfred Hitchcock, Earthquake Bird is all about guilt and the insidious nature and burden of carrying it. More slow-paced with a scene or two...

“Mr. Sunshine” (2018): Jane Austen meets Downton Abbey

Written by Diana Paul on March 10, 2020. Posted in movie reviews. 1 Comment on “Mr. Sunshine” (2018): Jane Austen meets Downton Abbey

Viewers are treated, in this 24-episode series, Mr. Sunshine, to a glimpse of Korean history that few outside of Korea will be familiar with . Screenwriting legend, Kim Eun Sook, has created an intricate historical romance set in 1871, when a US military ship docked in Korea, wishes to expand into Asia for the exploitation of...

The White Ribbon [Das Weisse Band]

Written by Diana Paul on March 2, 2020. Posted in movie reviews, Unhealed Wound. 1 Comment on The White Ribbon [Das Weisse Band]

[Guest reviewer Barbara Artson, author of the novel Odessa, Odessa ] Director Michael Haneke’s The White Ribbon (2009) opens in total darkness. We see nothing but hear only the elderly voice of a narrator: “I don’t know if the story that I want to tell you is entirely true. Some of it I only know by...