No. 17 - 4th September 2009.

I've had a busy month or so ploughing through my SKY+ recordings since coming back from Toronto. Beginning by picking up the threads from my last blog (September), both True Blood (FX, now showing on Channel 4) and Chuck (Virgin 1) finished their current season runs in style. I'm still not sure if the former has the legs to carry its characters through another full season or not, or whether its success is simply part of the trickle-down effect from the Twilight movies, time will tell, but there's enough quirkiness and strong characters to keep me watching. Chuck meanwhile continued the hunt for his father (Scott Bakula) and the show drafted in some big name cameos from Chevy Chase and Tricia Helfer alongside the returning Jordana Brewster as Chuck's ex-girlfriend. Hugely entertaining stuff as always.

Billed as an alternative to Lost by ABC in the States, FlashForward (Five) is a similar high concept mystery-adventure from writer/director David S. Goyer (The Unborn). Its wacky hook is simple: everyone around the globe blacks out for exactly two minutes and seventeen seconds, and in that time each person gets a glimpse of what they'll be doing in six months time. FBI Agent Mark Benford (Joseph Fiennes) is surprised to find himself in the midst of an investigation into the "Mosaic" organisation as gunmen burst into his office, although more immediately he notices that he's fallen off the wagon and is drinking again. Other key characters affected include Bryce (Zachary Knighton), a hospital worker about to commit suicide on Los Angeles pier as the blackout occurs, Olivia (Sonya Walger), Bryce's co-worker and Mark's wife, who is alarmed to find that she's now living with an unknown stranger (Jack Davenport), and Mark's partner Demetri (John Cho) who is even more terrified as he hasn't had a vision at all - and believes that must mean he's going to die!

There's some pedigree to the show with Brit thespians Fiennes (The Escapist) and Davenport (This Life) on board, along with Lost regulars Dominic Monaghan and Sonya Walger. However it's not the casting that is the issue here, it's the weak characters and crazy plot which gets sillier and sillier as the pilot episode unfolds. Quite how so many skyscrapers catch fire during the two minute blackout is never adequately explained, and how come the news channels are able to file a coherent report mere minutes after the event? Okay, so granted they get away with this type of nonsense every week in 24, but that has Jack Bauer in it! It's certainly an intriguing concept, but do we really need another Lost, especially when that far superior series (in my opinion) still has another season to run? Frankly no... FlashForward is simply not strong enough to warrant me spending the next 24 weeks trying to figure out what's going on. I gave it three episodes then bailed. YMMV.

Equally preposterous but infinitely more enjoyable was Harper's Island (BBC Three). Produced by Jon Turteltaub (both National Treasure films), it's a thirteen part whodunnit/slasher series set on a fictional island where a young couple Henry (Christopher Gorham) and Trish (Katie Cassidy) are due to be wed, with all their friends and family joining them for the happy occasion. Henry grew up on the island and is happy to see his childhood friend Abby (Elaine Cassidy) again, but for Abby returning to the island is tough as she's become estranged from her father, the island's sheriff, since the murder of her mother during a killing spree by John Wakefield seven years previously. Wakefield was caught and slain by her father thereafter but now the wedding guests are dying one by one... has Wakefield returned from the grave or is there other foul play afoot?

A glossy production full of pretty boys and young starlets, Harper's Island plays like an extended version of I Know What You Did Last Summer, it certainly has that nineties feel about it. With such a large - and largely unknown - cast, you're never quite sure who the next victim is going to be, and with at least one fatality every episode, no-one is safe! The fun comes from trying to work out the killer's identity, but it keeps you guessing as the twists keep coming as the body count increases. It's gripping at first but I have to admit that the longer it goes on, the more implausible the whole thing gets, especially once the final pieces of the puzzle are put in place. That said, there are some likeable characters (the well-spoken English chap Sully and his blonde bombshell Chloe were my favourites) and the series doesn't scrimp on the gore either, with plenty of suitably grisly ends in store for Wakefield's unfortunate victims. Nicely structured to the multi-episode format, Harper's Island at least attempts to do something a little different from most genre television and is certainly worth a look.

Reality television has become such a staple of the networks over the past decade it's hard to see where it can go from here, surely the well has been drained dry? I guess it was only a matter of time before a reality show was tailored towards horror fans and - thanks to Nicola for the tip off - we can now enjoy Scream Queens (Viva) in which ten aspiring actresses compete for a 'breakout' role in Saw VI. The format is almost identical to that perfected by the Next Top Model brand; each week the girls learn a new skill and have to undertake some sort of challenge, and are then evaluated by the judges who conclude by eliminating one of the contestants, or in this case, giving them the axe. Simple.

The judging panel (and mentors) for Scream Queens are James Gunn (director of Slither), Shawnee Smith (Amanda in the Saw films) and acting coach John Homa, so there's some credibility to the project, but is it any good? Well, not really, it's complete trash... the girls all conform to various stereotypes - or at least the show is edited to portray them that way - so you have the bitch, the diva, the dumb one, the edgy one etc. The challenges are ridiculous, especially the attempts by the producers to scare the contestants, but is it enjoyable? Yes! As a self-confessed fan of America's Next Top Model, having an identical programme with a horror theme is a win-win scenario for me. Of course it's inherently rubbish, as 99% of reality shows are, but it's entertaining rubbish. For the record, I've seen Saw VI and I still have absolutely no idea which contestant actually goes on to win the coveted role in the film!

Looking forward, what else can we look forward to over the coming weeks? Well, the eagerly awaited Doctor Who special, The Waters Of Mars (BBC One) is due to hit our screens on Sunday 15th November whilst Misfits (E4) is a promising new comedy drama about a group of Asbo teenagers who develop special powers. Channel 4 meanwhile are hosting a week of 3D themed shows including a magic spectacular hosted by Derren Brown, The Greatest Ever 3D Moments, plus 3D screenings of Friday The 13th Part 3 and Paul Morrissey's classic Flesh For Frankenstein. Head to Sainsburys to pick up your free 3D glasses without delay!

Finally, an update on James Moran (Torchwood: Children Of Earth) who I interviewed for TV Eye back in July; James has just written and directed, in partnership with Dan Turner, a new web based drama called Girl Number 9. Starring Joe Absolom (Eastenders), Gareth David-Lloyd (Torchwood) and Tracy-Ann Oberman (Doctor Who), this six part thriller can be viewed online at www.canyousaverher.com and will be available on DVD soon.

Until next time,

Keep watching.

__________________________________________________________________________

© London FrightFest Ltd. 2000-2009