Reviews

I couldn't turn this off. Every time I said last episode, it drew me back in. Gets pretty intense, and if it's a true story -as it purports to be- these people are truly ill and can all use help, but it is nevertheless riveting. It's twisted and sad. Now for the "but." And I guess this will be a spoiler of sorts. So SPOILER ALERT: The ending Donny is wandering around and ends up in a pub. All this time he is listening to Martha on his headset, but what he is listening to was not a conversation that she left on his phone. They are from his early meetings with Martha that they had face to face. Yes, she recorded everything, but when or how did he get her tapes? Did I miss something? I found that a huge flaw that took me right out of the story.

Still I would recommend it. A fascinating story for sure.

This film is one of the best of the year and has sneaked into my personal top ten. It must be seen at least twice to feel its true impact. The second time I watched it, it wiped me out. Yes, it is a little slow but stick with it because it is incredibly moving. It's melancholic tone is perfect. The two lead performances are tremendously affective. Without some force fed annoying backstory, we learn Calum is a seriously troubled young man: Self loathing and deeply depressed. He communicates this without words. It is a brilliant performance.

There have been questions about the ending.

Here come the spoilers: I think it's clear, at least to me, that when Calum leaves Sophie at the airport, he will soon commit suicide.

When the film opens, the adult Sophie is rewinding the vacation video tape of the last time she saw her father. ( Her father took the tape with him when they parted at the airport.) Later in the film we see her getting out of bed, and she steps onto the rug her father purchased on their vacation together. She has his belongings. But does this mean he committed suicide? I'd say do when you consider other key moments.

There is a scene when we watch Calum walk into the sea. Is he committing suicide? It appears so, but he can't go through with it, because in the next scene Sophie finds him passed out, naked, in their room.

Later when Calum is sitting on the bed, his back to us, sobbing. The camera pans down to a postcard that reads "Sophie, Always remember I love you, Dad" Why write and mail postcard to his daughter. Why not simply tell her or call her? Because he knows what he is about to do.

Calum's walking in front of a truck, standing on the railing of his balcony, even his broken wrist and the wound on his shoulder indicate he takes risks that could cause his death. He is a man who wants to die.

It's a rich film that needs patience, attention, and as I said, a second viewing. However, it is well worth the time. In the end it's devastating.

Great show ... until the totally disappointing ending. HATED, HATED, HATED it! Wendy is so vile she needed to pay. I wish Jonah would have turned the gun on his parents at the end. Or they all should have died in the car crash. Ruth, Wyatt, and Ben - the only decent characters- get it, and Wendy and Marty end up with everything they want. Worst. Ending. Ever.