My Review - A is forAcid
Streaming on Prime
My Rating 8/10
I think Martin Clunes gives a career defying performance as John George Haigh commonly known as the Acid Bath Murderer it's a far cry from the irritable but indispensable Doc Martin .
Based on true events that occurred in the mid to late 1940's A is for Acid was filmed in 2002 but I had never heard of it till a friend recommended it .
Its a true story told a little in the style of Sweeney Todd the Demon Barber of Fleet Street . While it may sound odd for me ,considering the subject matter to say it's more a dark comedy than a depiction of explicit murderous carnage I found it a very interesting and entertaining story .
John George Haigh was raised in the stifling atmosphere of two very strict Plymouth Brethren parents a experienced constant religious nightmares as a child . His parents Emily and John Haigh taught their son that everyone outside their faith was a sinner in God's eyes .
While serving a stretch in Prison for fraud John Haigh became fascinated with The "Great Writ" of habeas corpus which is a fundamental right in the Constitution that protects against unlawful and indefinite imprisonment. Translated from Latin it means "show me the body" so he interpreted that as no body no charge . While in prison he experimented on rats dissolving them in acid and discovered their body's dissolved to nothing in 30 minutes.
After being released John George Haigh then rented a small workshop at 2 Leopold Road, Crawley, Sussex, he moved acid and drums there from Gloucester Road.
He was eventually convicted for the murder of six people, although he claimed to have killed nine. Haigh battered to death or shot his victims and disposed of their bodies using sulphuric acid before forging their signatures so he could sell their possessions and collect large sums of money.
Martin Clunes as John George Haigh is devilishly delightful as the almost debonair accomplished con man / inventor who equally impresses bank manages , the ladies and the wealthy society couples he con's successfully.
He has no moral judgment and anyone including best friends are dispensable in sulphuric acid if they dd to his aspirations of wealth .
No spoilers but special mention must be made for the delightful performance from Keeley Hawes as Gillian Rogers who is smitten by the charms of John Haigh this must have been one of her early movie roles .
Another standout for me was the equally delightful and Celia Imrie as Rose Henderson the acerbic but flirty wife of Archie one of Haigh's targets .
The Director Harry Bradbeer who went on to direct Killing Eve and Fleabag gives this movie just the right tone it's dark but not black.
The sets by Production Designer George Kyriakides and costumes by Brian Ashley authenticity take us back to the 1940's as does the music soundtrack of hits of the era .
In an era where some screenplay writing just leaves me cold Glenn Chandler has written an entertaining story that keeps the viewers interest to the inevitable conclusion.
Streaming on Prime
My Rating 8/10
I think Martin Clunes gives a career defying performance as John George Haigh commonly known as the Acid Bath Murderer it's a far cry from the irritable but indispensable Doc Martin .
Based on true events that occurred in the mid to late 1940's A is for Acid was filmed in 2002 but I had never heard of it till a friend recommended it .
Its a true story told a little in the style of Sweeney Todd the Demon Barber of Fleet Street . While it may sound odd for me ,considering the subject matter to say it's more a dark comedy than a depiction of explicit murderous carnage I found it a very interesting and entertaining story .
John George Haigh was raised in the stifling atmosphere of two very strict Plymouth Brethren parents a experienced constant religious nightmares as a child . His parents Emily and John Haigh taught their son that everyone outside their faith was a sinner in God's eyes .
While serving a stretch in Prison for fraud John Haigh became fascinated with The "Great Writ" of habeas corpus which is a fundamental right in the Constitution that protects against unlawful and indefinite imprisonment. Translated from Latin it means "show me the body" so he interpreted that as no body no charge . While in prison he experimented on rats dissolving them in acid and discovered their body's dissolved to nothing in 30 minutes.
After being released John George Haigh then rented a small workshop at 2 Leopold Road, Crawley, Sussex, he moved acid and drums there from Gloucester Road.
He was eventually convicted for the murder of six people, although he claimed to have killed nine. Haigh battered to death or shot his victims and disposed of their bodies using sulphuric acid before forging their signatures so he could sell their possessions and collect large sums of money.
Martin Clunes as John George Haigh is devilishly delightful as the almost debonair accomplished con man / inventor who equally impresses bank manages , the ladies and the wealthy society couples he con's successfully.
He has no moral judgment and anyone including best friends are dispensable in sulphuric acid if they dd to his aspirations of wealth .
No spoilers but special mention must be made for the delightful performance from Keeley Hawes as Gillian Rogers who is smitten by the charms of John Haigh this must have been one of her early movie roles .
Another standout for me was the equally delightful and Celia Imrie as Rose Henderson the acerbic but flirty wife of Archie one of Haigh's targets .
The Director Harry Bradbeer who went on to direct Killing Eve and Fleabag gives this movie just the right tone it's dark but not black.
The sets by Production Designer George Kyriakides and costumes by Brian Ashley authenticity take us back to the 1940's as does the music soundtrack of hits of the era .
In an era where some screenplay writing just leaves me cold Glenn Chandler has written an entertaining story that keeps the viewers interest to the inevitable conclusion.