Author: Diana Paul

Dickensian–A Twist on Sherlock Holmes?

Written by Diana Paul on December 14, 2025. Posted in Television reviews. 1 Comment on Dickensian–A Twist on Sherlock Holmes?

Dickensian is a 2016 BBC historical drama mini-series that borrows from several of Charles Dickens’ novels to present his characters’ personalities in a murder mystery, Sherlock Holmes style. The creator, Tony Jordan, repositions some of the most well-known characters from The Christmas Carol, David Copperfield, Great...

A Mother’s Son–Parental Doom?

Written by Diana Paul on December 8, 2025. Posted in Television reviews.

In this two-part psychological thriller, A Mother’s Son,(2012) a teenage girl is found brutally stabbed to death in a small town in Suffolk, England. On the night of her murder, newlyweds Ben (Martin Clunes of “Doc Martin”) and Rosie (Hermione Norris), are grappling with their four teenage children’s ...

Frankenstein (2025) – – Beauty and the Beast?

Written by Diana Paul on November 30, 2025. Posted in movie reviews.

In this artistic retelling of Mary Shelley’s 1818 masterpiece, Frankenstein: Or, The Modern Prometheus by Academy-Award winning director Guillermo del Toro (of “The Shape of Water”, “Pan’s Labyrinth”, “The Devil’s Backbone” and “Hellboy”), we see his trademark signature of portraying ...

Angry Squad: Civil Servant and Seven Swindlers

Written by Diana Paul on November 17, 2025. Posted in movie reviews.

Wealthy real estate developer, Tachibana, is a tax cheat. Jiro Kumazawa is a dedicated tax collector. After his good friend mysteriously dies, easy-going, moping civil servant, Jiro, suspects Tachibana and wants to collect taxes of over 1Billion yen from the real estate mogul and solve his friend’s murder. An Angry...

The Task–Stay Focused: “Monk” meets “Slow Horses”

Written by Diana Paul on November 10, 2025. Posted in Television reviews, Unhealed Wound.

In the opening scene of The Task, a lost soul named Robbie (Tom Pelphrey of “Ozark”), leads two equally incompetent friends Cliff (Raul Castillo) and Peaches (Owen Teague), on a mission to rob drug houses. Not exactly “Breaking Bad” but the target is a ruthless drug cartel, aptly named the Dark Hearts. What could go...

Néro the Assassin (2025)–A Slayer and Hero

Written by Diana Paul on November 3, 2025. Posted in movie reviews, Unhealed Wound. 1 Comment on Néro the Assassin (2025)–A Slayer and Hero

Néro the Assassin, set in the 16th century southern French town of Lamartine, opens with an assassin for hire–Nero– bemoaning the fact that: “If you want old age and a peaceful life, don’t have kids.” For years southern France has suffered a devastating drought and famine. The archbishop of the...