Movie Review - Dead Over Heels: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery

Dead Over Heels

An Aurora Teagarden Mystery

2017

The Cast

Aurora (Bure) is having plumbing problems and with the help of her friend, Sally (Doig) they set about fixing it.  While checking out the well's pump in the garden, the body of Chief Of Police, Captain Burns (March), falls from an aeroplane... at their feet.  Being the compulsively curious amateur sleuth she is, Aurora sets out to track down the cop killer...

Storywise, this isn't as solid as previous instalments of the enthusiast crime solver.  In a few scenes, it feels especially contrived.  Specifically where the two sisters are concerned.  The reaction of Bess Burns' (Cairns) reaction to her husband's death is kind of unbelievable.  She doesn't appear to mourn him and at times even sees a bright side to his death.  Then there's her sister, Lillian Tibbit (Harvie), who has an episode where she's the complete opposite of her normal personality,  This would have been okay had Bess been more realistic.  But to have two strange personalities in one story is one too much.  This does pull the audiences attention away and out of the story and film.

This though is pretty much the only downside to the movie.  The rest of the story is strong and sound.  Filled with red herrings and false suspects.  Though it shouldn't be too hard for you figure out whodunnit... though you may find yourself changing your mind a couple of times.

There's nothing too interesting in the direction, it's pretty standard stuff.  Also, the special effect of the falling body looks cheap and nasty.  Luckily it's at the start of the film and over in a couple of seconds.

It's the acting along with the story that will keep the attention of the audience.  Just like the previous episodes, the acting is above average and nobody stands out more than anyone else.  Everybody has the limelight, allowing the story to take precedence and helps to extend the mystery (there's nothing worse than having some actor or actress walk on screen and you know they're the bad guy or gal).

If you're a fan of the Aurora Teagarden Mysteries you will like this chapter of her life.  You needn't have watched the previous episodes to enjoy this film, though you would probably get more enjoyment if you had.

I give this a Free Falling Murder of 6.5 out of 10.

The Trailer

Movie Review - A Colder Kind Of Death

A Colder Kind Of Death

2001

The Cast

There are a lot of pokers in the fire in this story of political corruption, which makes for an interesting film.

Six years ago, Peter Kilbourn was murdered by the side of the road.  Finally, the case is reopened when an alibi recants his statement and admits that the main suspect in the case had committed the crime.  Kevin Tarpley is arrested.  All throughout the interrogation he apologises but never revokes his innocence in the murder.  However, when he is being transferred Tarpley is shot and killed by a sniper, making Joanne Kilbourn (Crewson) suspect ulterior motives, so she sets about tracking down Tarpley's murder in the hopes of resolving her husband's.  This is the beginning of a complicated, though well structured and nicely interwoven, story where everyone could be a suspect and possible murderer.

For the most part, Turner does an okay job with the direction.  Opting for a standard style so as to let the story speak for itself.  It would have been nice to have a few interesting camera pans instead of the usual kind.  The pace is steady as well.  Once again this is okay for this type of story, but a few peaks of tension wouldn't have gone amiss.

All of the actors and actresses did well in their portrayals of their characters, though a couple did stand out for me.  Kari Matchett makes a really good bad girl - I'd love to see her in more tough girl roles.  Robin Dunne, who would've been put to good use in a few more scenes, had a presence and his slightly comedic character helped to lift the mood of the film and stop it feeling stale.  When these two were on screen the film skipped up a notch.  That said, none of the other actors and actresses was anywhere near bad; even the smaller parts were interesting.  I particularly liked the Hair Dresser and the School Principal.

However, it is the story that carries the film and as such makes the reveal hard to solve.  This is why, I would recommend this to all Mystery & Thriller Lovers, Armchair Detectives, and Whodunnit Pundits.  This is a political conspiracy I challenge you to solve.

I give this an unpolitically correct 6 out of 10.

The Trailer

Movie Review - My Daughter Is Innocent

My Daughter Is Innocent

2017

The Cast

When two high school friends realise they're going out with the same guy it puts a strain on their relationship.  One of the girls, Amber (Sarah Fisher) is happy to walk away from Alex.  While Kelly (Hannah Vandenbygaart) decides he's preferable to her best friend.  Upset and wanting to understand why he'd do such a thing, Amber sneaks out of the house for a meeting.  The next morning Alex is found injured at their meeting place.  With his future looking bleak the girls are questioned by Detective Grayson (John Koensgen).  Unfortunately, when he dies, Amber is charged with his murder and her mother, Lisa (Victoria Pratt), takes it upon herself to solve the murder.  With the help of her friend and Kelly's mother, Heather (Christina Cox), they start to delve into the man's sordid life.

This is a nice little film that probes into the relationships between mothers and daughters, between best friends, and their lovers.  This adds quite a few contrasts and gives more depths to the story, which in turn, keeps it interesting.  

Then you have the characters themselves.  For the most part, the characterisations are perfect and everybody has their own traits and their way of doing things and coping with stressful situations.  Though I do feel a little sad for Vandenbygaart.  Kelly should be one of the major characters though she gets overlooked too much.  Had their been more between her and her mother it could have only strengthened the story and film.

You could also use this movie to warn girls about the perverts that troll the internet.  Both Amber and Kelly meet Alex online first, though he's using aliases (another twist that could have been utilised more).  The thing that made me uneasy was the age of the boyfriend.  This guy was no boy.  He even worked at a bar and picked up whomsoever was around.  With the number of victories he could get from the bar alone why does he need schoolgirls?  Pervert.  I can understand somebody wanting to knock him off.  The list should be endless.

The actresses and actors are good in their portrayals and Max McGuire directs well.  Even though the twist in the tale is quite obvious it shouldn't detract from the enjoyment of the film.  I'd recommend this tale of murder and mystery to all Armchair Detectives everywhere.

I give this one night stand gigolo a 6.25 out of 10.

The Trailer

Movie Review - A Life Of Deception

A Life Of Deception

AKA:  Washed Away

2017

 The Cast 

Here we have the well-worn story of a dead husband and the wife who won't believe he's dead.  While out on a vacation celebrating their anniversary Parker (Sirow) is supposedly killed in a whitewater canoeing accident.  However, during a visit to San Francisco a few months later his wife, Gabrielle (Vaugier), swears she see's him in a busy market.  But of course, he disappears before she can get to him.  This and a few other strange events prompt her to start her own investigation into his death.  The twists are well woven into the story though they're nothing new and you can figure them out quite quickly.  That though is pretty much the only issue I had with the story.

Emmanuelle Vaugier gives another solid performance as a wife thrown into a broiling situation.  She handles the many emotions the story calls for in her stride.  Doubt over their marriage, fear over her missing husband, sadness at the wake, the awareness that something isn't right, understanding at the outcome.  I know why this actress gets hired.  Shame it's the rest of the cast which lets the acting down.  Cameron Bancroft as Detective Asher is so blank and emotionless, somebody should take his pulse to make sure he's still alive.  At times the same can be said about Kristen Harris' portrayal of Genna, though she does have a few scene's where she comes alive.  The trouble is you just don't care for her.  When she comes to Gabrielle with the story of being beaten up by her drunken husband, she just doesn't sell it enough.  Had this character come across better then the film would have been stronger for it.  I thought it might have been the writing or direction that was the cause of the characters problems, but then Adam Hurtig comes along as Travis.  Travis is irascible, greaving, angry, and blames his sister in law for his brother's death.  Most of the time this can be seen in his demeanour and on his face.  Hurtig is an actor to watch.

As for the direction, Jeff Beasley does a good job and tries to add different camera shots to show mood.  There's a scene after Parker's death where Gabrielle is laying on her bed thinking, mourning, and remembering him.  Beasley tries to show her feelings at this time by a series of steady near still shots as she shifts about the bed.  Five seconds of her laid on her back, head on pillows.  Five seconds of her laid on her front, head towards the foot of the bed.  Five seconds of her sat on the edge at the foot of the bed.  Though this didn't work for me, I have to appreciate that he tried to add something different to keep the story and film interesting to the viewers.  His whitewater shot at the beginning was very good, though not really tied to the film... unless it's Gabrielle's accident we learn about later.

I enjoyed this film and would recommend it to all armchair detectives, whodunnit pundits, and mystery and thriller fans everywhere for at least one viewing.  It doesn't even have to be raining outside.  Though I would say it's a lazy day film... so a good one to watch in bed on a Sunday morning or after a pleasant and filling Sunday dinner.

I give this disappearing husband a 5.75 out of 10.

The Trailer

Movie Review - Presumed Dead

Presumed Dead

2006 

 The Cast

After the death of her police officer husband Detective Mary Ann Cooper - "Coop" - (Fenn) is reluctant to take leave and throws herself into her work, much to the distress of her young daughter.  On the night of her husband's death, he was called out to a domestic disturbance at a local writer's home.  Sharing his thoughts about the man and the situation with Coop, she is left with the impression that the writer is not to be trusted.  So when she hears about a possible murder at the house she rushes to the crime scene and inserts herself into the case.  This is where the twists and turns begin.

This is a very clever mystery tale.  However, there are times when it feels as though the writer, Lindsay James (Keith Shaw) struggles with some of the plot twists and their culmination.  Which is a shame as it adds a sloppiness to the project.  Though the courtroom scene is very well structured as you get to see how a writers mind can rework the facts to meet a different scenario.  Loved this section of the story.  Then you get the ending which feels rushed and spoils the mood and aura of the film.

The director, George Mendeluk, is adept at creating atmosphere, though a little more tension at times wouldn't have gone amiss.  Also, a change of pace would have been good.  There are a couple of scenes that would have improved from a different approach, especially the two in the woods.

I liked Fenn as the cop on a mission, she did well in portraying her.  Fenn has had a lot of hits and misses in her career, this one is a hit.  The rest of the cast also do a good job with their characterisations.  Though, I wouldn't have chosen Regehr to play the writer, Seth Harmon.  This character calls for a cool and cocky air to him, Regehr gets nowhere near to these traits.  Then when he starts to break, Regehr struggles with pulling off this psychological side.  Though, this could be what the director envisioned and asked for.  However, I cannot help but think how much better the film would have been with a stronger bad guy.

This is a movie I'd recommend all mystery and thriller fans and whodunnit pundits to watch, at least once.  Once the plot twists have been exposed then the power of the film has been expunged.

I give this a writer's block of 5.75 out of 10.

The Trailer