[Locke]

I dunno whether it counts as a movie as it was broadcast on TV, but it's feature length and is presented like a film so yeah... I just watched The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher The Murder at Road Hill House.

Although the production and acting is all solid, this just kinda makes you wish Considine was in a Sherlock Holmes adaptation. I understand this is based on true events, and inspired Sherlock Holmes to a degree but the fact that the film tries to stick so close to the facts makes this feel almost mundane in comparison.

I know that is horrible, as it features the death of a child, something that should never be called mundane. But it's less so in the events that transpire that this is mundane, and more around Whicher himself. We're so used to eccentric detectives with complex roller coaster investigations. But Road Hill lacks all of that excitement, and all of that wit, which is a shame as I love Considine.

I can't even really praise its use of the period. Although true, the trajectory of the narrative perhaps wouldn't have played out much in the way it did if it took place today, we've already seen this concept done much better elsewhere. Mr. Whicher's battle with a country town more interested in treading lightly than finding truth and justice sadly just isn't particularly interesting.

Honestly overall that is the problem, Road Hill is simply boring. Beyond base shocks, and twists that add more punch because this is based on a true story, there is little to this tale. This is a visual medium, so having so much of your film playing out as characters simply standing about and chatting, with the camera being largely static and rarely cutting doesn't make for interesting viewing. I'm grateful that this didn't feel the need to embellish but you can make things more interesting without adding a new car chase.