Unnecessary animal brutality. Odd, when the show is about a murder of a human, the animal brutality was more upsetting.
If it weren't for those parts, I would have found this dysfunctional, gothic story very good.
21 Reviews
Not as bad as some reviews
Headturner116 March 2020
I watch mostly all UK series. I was sick of sifting thru stuff and saw the one ad review on my phone. I watched til the end. I thought it was decent. I didn't like the hurried ending but I've turned off a bunch of series 20 min in the last few nights. This is creepy. They could have done a bit more back ground on the characters and yes the ending wasn't all that but I think it was a decent thrilling watch...
Fantastic piece of work
garethnewbery17 May 2019
Dreadful
Jbird6522 November 2019
If you haven't already wasted a couple of hours of your life on watching this, trust me when I say don't bother. It's about a bunch of angst ridden, self-serving no hopers with daddy issues, who are all equally unpleasant and scrabbling around after the death of their mother, trying to get one up on their brothers or sisters. It's one of those shows where you watch an episode or two and then toy with the idea of giving it up but don't, thinking at some point it must get better .
It doesn't.
what a waste
windsorenquirer17 May 2019
Depressing viewing
lucyannashford17 May 2019
Slow burner, superbly well acted
intricate and depressing story of family of 4 children arguing over the inheritance of their parents estate. (Sure makes me glad to be an only child!). Nearly all characters are unlikeable and have sinister intentions or back stories. Not sure it was worth the 4 hours. Could've been done in half that.
A good old fashioned whodunit.
Sleepin_Dragon3 June 2019
I am surprised by the negative reviews, I thoroughly enjoyed this four part series. It truly was a good old fashioned murder mystery. All of the necessary elements were present, good characters, motives, opportunities, and of course no end of suspects. I enjoyed the way the story was told, very unusual, but in a way that was easy to follow.
Truly they are the most dysfunctional family on Earth, every single one of them has hidden secrets, and of course motive for murder.
The biggest revelation for me wasn't the killer, although that outcome was about the only scenario I didn't imagine, but the performance of David Caves, am so used to him being Jack the good guy in Silent Witness, he showed here how versatile an actor he was, he was nasty.
I enjoyed it from start to finish. 9/10
Truly they are the most dysfunctional family on Earth, every single one of them has hidden secrets, and of course motive for murder.
The biggest revelation for me wasn't the killer, although that outcome was about the only scenario I didn't imagine, but the performance of David Caves, am so used to him being Jack the good guy in Silent Witness, he showed here how versatile an actor he was, he was nasty.
I enjoyed it from start to finish. 9/10
It's not THAT bad!
jensmartin9 January 2020
This is not the greatest murder mystery show you will ever see. The acting is a bit ropey in parts and the ending is frankly a bit flat. I see a lot of reviews here saying that the characters were just not likeable but I rather think that was the point. They aren't supposed to be.
Fair enough for a bit of mindless entertainment but don't expect too much and will be instantly forgettable.
Fair enough for a bit of mindless entertainment but don't expect too much and will be instantly forgettable.
Don't waste your time! Boring
Britinmiami1 December 2019
15 Days felt more like 15 years! This show was terrible on several levels. To begin, the acting was poor, and the annoying little girl was the last straw. The directing was meager, and the terrible script impacted that. The wardrobe was a colossal joke and one scene where Sue Roderick stepped outside in a pair of pants, and you could be forgiven for thinking she looked like a contestant for the biggest loser.
The actor who was probably the worst was David Caves. As mentioned, the script and the direction didn't help, and his acting outburst was pathetic. Then there was the "forbidden room" which was so BORING. This goes back to the story and the writing and how it was all so dated. Tom Rhys Harries was wrongly cast and hopefully gets better roles.
The other joke was this so-called abandoned house, which seemed to have more food and wine on tap than your local groceries. Then there were the awful sex scenes where people were sneaking around this old house, and no one noticed. The flashback scenes were similar to a Hammer Horror film.
I recommend you watch this show with the sound off so you can get to see the beautiful environment.
The actor who was probably the worst was David Caves. As mentioned, the script and the direction didn't help, and his acting outburst was pathetic. Then there was the "forbidden room" which was so BORING. This goes back to the story and the writing and how it was all so dated. Tom Rhys Harries was wrongly cast and hopefully gets better roles.
The other joke was this so-called abandoned house, which seemed to have more food and wine on tap than your local groceries. Then there were the awful sex scenes where people were sneaking around this old house, and no one noticed. The flashback scenes were similar to a Hammer Horror film.
I recommend you watch this show with the sound off so you can get to see the beautiful environment.
Surprisingly entertaining thriller
Maverick196218 May 2019
I only started watching to see Catherine Tyldesley who I'd seen in Coronation Street some years ago when I used to watch it. I was curious to see what she could do with another part and she is terrific in this story about a dysfunctional family who meet up in Wales to scatter their mother's ashes and sort out the farm estate. It is melodrama but exceptionally well acted by the entire cast, even though they are on the whole, unlikeable. In spite of that I found it to be compelling viewing, loved it, unlike other reviewers here.
Blame the poor script, this feels like third class amdram
blue-raincoat17 May 2019
Trying to work exactly where this drama went wrong, as it certainly did go wrong. Lack of dramatic tension, yes, oh so slow pacing, ridiculously blatant exposition in dialogue, it felt like a badly done amdram production of an early Agatha Christie whodunnit.
Such a pity as the performances were good enough, production values fine, but this was one of the worst television dramas to hit our screens in a very long time. The script, I fear, is the culprit. Cliche ridden dialogue almost laughable at times, no proper structure, predictable and utterly lame. I'd challenge anyone to get through four hours of this lamentable excuse for a thriller.
Because I'm not a quitter
mbazhome21 November 2020
I'm a fan of this type of suspenseful drama. This particular series didn't work for me. The characters were unlikeable and even worse uninteresting. Even the little kid was irritating. In the end I didn't care who did it I just wanted it over. I only watched all 4 episodes because I'm not a quitter. I guess I was hoping it would get better. It didn't.
Mind the (plot) gap
jonmccann17 May 2019
If anything, this series goes to prove that you cannot just stick a few well known actors into a show and expect a hit....In fact in cases like this it is a big miss.
The actually concept is tired and old, but does work when written well, just sadly this is very poorly written. The acting is in most parts really bad and you could have probably cut down the characters by half and not missed any and made a better show.
I understand the point is to try and build/weave individuals into the story to create an air of mystery and more questions as to 'who dunnit', but whilst I didn't guess the ending, which is usually a good thing, by the time it came I just didn't care...And that is the biggest problem, the obnoxious nature of all the characters meant that I just did not buy into the series from the outset!
If, as a previous reviewer has pointed out, it had been done over a couple of episodes rather than 4, it maybe would have been more suspenseful, but alas, it wasnt and errr it wasnt.
In my opinion, tv series as a whole have got a 'netflix' complex, they want to build a story. but at the same time they want the conclusion far quicker than the build up allows. It is not uncommon to see ITV, BBC One, and now 5 serialising shows over a week, but it just doesn't work, you only have to look at recent TV successes (Line of Duty, Game of Thrones etc) to know that to build tension, you either go week by week, or to give people a fix, you drop it all at once, this whole 4-5 night approach doesn't work and invariably leads to making the show too long and too boring to satiate a viewers appetite!
The actually concept is tired and old, but does work when written well, just sadly this is very poorly written. The acting is in most parts really bad and you could have probably cut down the characters by half and not missed any and made a better show.
I understand the point is to try and build/weave individuals into the story to create an air of mystery and more questions as to 'who dunnit', but whilst I didn't guess the ending, which is usually a good thing, by the time it came I just didn't care...And that is the biggest problem, the obnoxious nature of all the characters meant that I just did not buy into the series from the outset!
If, as a previous reviewer has pointed out, it had been done over a couple of episodes rather than 4, it maybe would have been more suspenseful, but alas, it wasnt and errr it wasnt.
In my opinion, tv series as a whole have got a 'netflix' complex, they want to build a story. but at the same time they want the conclusion far quicker than the build up allows. It is not uncommon to see ITV, BBC One, and now 5 serialising shows over a week, but it just doesn't work, you only have to look at recent TV successes (Line of Duty, Game of Thrones etc) to know that to build tension, you either go week by week, or to give people a fix, you drop it all at once, this whole 4-5 night approach doesn't work and invariably leads to making the show too long and too boring to satiate a viewers appetite!
Better than the rating would suggest.
edwardhutchinson4 December 2021
Dreadful people
chyna-s8 June 2019
Dark, disturbing and gripping....
InnerWisdom100031 August 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed this series. I can get why some may not, because this was very dark, disturbing and certainly not for the faint-hearted. As a psychologist with much expertise in the field of trauma, this series is an excellent case study of dysfuntionality at it's very worst, and the toxicity that permeates from those who are supposed to be there to nurture their children but instead abandon their proper duties and thus set in motion the continuation of dysfunctional behaviour throughout a family, and beyond.
The script was tense, taut and keeps the viewer wondering what will happen next. All the actors did their roles justice. And a clever director keeps you guessing until the end by commencing with a murder, and keeping the viewer on his/her toes right to the final scene.
Enjoy - if you can.....
The script was tense, taut and keeps the viewer wondering what will happen next. All the actors did their roles justice. And a clever director keeps you guessing until the end by commencing with a murder, and keeping the viewer on his/her toes right to the final scene.
Enjoy - if you can.....
Theatre of the absurd
rafiweiner21 September 2019
Good acting talent wasted on a far-fetched story about a dysfunctional family fighting over the estate of their late parent. Each character and family member is more repulsive than the next. A tedious and violent family drama.
Ohhhh what a let down
athenshiker13 September 2023
Warning: Spoilers
I just don't do 1 star reviews. I'm always the person who sees the merit in effort if not achievement. But I cannot pretend to believe justified any part of the pathetic, ridiculous, lazy, BS of an ending after building up to it so seemingly well...at least from certain perspectives. It would have been better as a Tarantino film. At least there would be no mistaking the lure of what was lauding as potentially special as anything but inevitable, and it would have been deliciously and comedically twisted.
Funding cut before the last episode? Aw shucks, we'll never know. Actor leaves? Darn, it was getting so good. Writers' strike? I hope someone picks it back up (and I hope the writers get treated better). In this case it's a crying damn shame that I can't feel good enough to offer any more.
The acting was pretty good if not fantastic at times, one loathsome character having been played so well that I might refuse to see anything else with that same actor. No excuse. The staging, costuming, setting, cinematography, heck literally EVERYTHING about the series but the last episode felt right, if still not a perfect ten. At least it might have been an 8!
In short, don't watch it. You'll be duped into believing you're in for a great ride when in fact the coaster stops just short of the final loop and you realize after getting out of the car that it was never going to go there anyway. I want my time back, please.
Funding cut before the last episode? Aw shucks, we'll never know. Actor leaves? Darn, it was getting so good. Writers' strike? I hope someone picks it back up (and I hope the writers get treated better). In this case it's a crying damn shame that I can't feel good enough to offer any more.
The acting was pretty good if not fantastic at times, one loathsome character having been played so well that I might refuse to see anything else with that same actor. No excuse. The staging, costuming, setting, cinematography, heck literally EVERYTHING about the series but the last episode felt right, if still not a perfect ten. At least it might have been an 8!
In short, don't watch it. You'll be duped into believing you're in for a great ride when in fact the coaster stops just short of the final loop and you realize after getting out of the car that it was never going to go there anyway. I want my time back, please.
Don't bother
jenniferhb10619 October 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Great idea, great start, gripping first ten minutes. Then it was all downhill as we meet the whole family. 15 days over the course of 4 episodes. None of the characters are likeable, most are narcissistic and downright evil. The rest are weak pathetic characters - I'm surprised they could even walk considering they have no backbone. By the third episode, I was hoping everyone just died. At various points they try to introduce a ghost character and attempt the whole horror in the large old house element. It's annoying rather than creepy. Watched the whole 4 episodes so I could review it honestly. And honestly it is horrendously bad.
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