The Suspicions Of Mr Whicher (2011)

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• familiar s

  
  As inscribed on their gravestone: MARY ANN WIFE OF S SAVILL KENT ESO. 1808-1852 ALSO OF… More
  As inscribed on their gravestone: MARY ANN WIFE OF S SAVILL KENT ESO. 1808-1852 ALSO OF FRANCIS SAVILL KENT 1856-1860 THE DEARLY LOVED SON OF SAMUEL SAVILL AND MARY DROWE KENT CRUELLY MURDERED AT ROAD AGED 3 YEARS AND 10 MONTHS SHALL NOT GOD SEARCH THIS OUT FOR HE KNOWETH THE SECRETS OF THE HEART Simply excellent flick. I was surprised to know that some were bored by it and found it run-of-the-mill whodunit. Maybe they knew about the case beforehand or had read the bestseller (which is said to contain very minute details about the family background and the case in general) which was the basis for this telefilm. Or maybe they simply found it boring. Whatever, hail "to each their own". I liked the movie on almost all levels. The way layer after layer is peeled that establish motives for different persons to commit the crime, and the way the family's secrets are exposed is remarkable. However, at times, I felt that the movie should have begun from the point where the child goes missing. But after a while (somewhere near the first half) I realized that the movie wasn't meant to be merely a mysterious story (or so I felt). To say it's just a run-of-the-mill whodunit or even just a whodunit won't be appropriate IMO. The whodunit was one of its several impressive elements, but it wasn't the whole and soul of the movie (and hence isn't dragged till the very end). The movie is quite shocking in itself, and given that it's based on real life events only intensifies the effect. I can't remember when was the last time that some scene in a movie managed to literally send a chill down my spine before this one. (I won't be able to specify that particular scene without including spoilers, which I guess some of you would very much welcome :p) The movie doesn't involve graphic violence or gore, and still it manages to render such effects. Of course, the screenplay must have deviated from the happenings and order of real life events to an extent to maintain its grip, but I don't consider it as its drawback. If anything, it only helped in maintaining my attention and curiosity. Performance-wise, everyone seemed suitably cast in their given role. Yet I'd like to admit that the looks of certain characters were awkward. But I guess it was as per the norms in those days and place. And thankfully, these characters didn't have a large role to play (which might have been distracting). Do I recommend it? Well, it won't be justifiable to say that I can't recommend a movie which now belongs to my all time favorite movies' list. While that doesn't undo the saying "to each their own", I can only hope that you too would like it.