Did you know there was a night version of the legendary Thames TV logo? The majestic opener of a mirrored reflection of London landmarks appeared sunny and bright when introducing Benny Hill. It was quite a shock to now discover they created the same view basking in the glow of a full moon. But the darkness was reflective of Armchair Thriller, the network’s serialization of novels filled with murder, corruption and deceit. This was not a series for the timid as evidenced by the opening credits of an innocent white armchair being occupied by a ghost. Armchair Thriller: Set 2 contains three of the adapted novels broken into six, 25-minute long episodes along with a feature film cut of one.
“Quiet as a Nun” brings a pesky journalist to a convent to investigate what so many people don’t want to classified as a homicide. TV reporter Jemina Shore (A Fish Called Wanda‘s Maria Aitken) pokes around the nunnery after a beloved nun starved herself to death. Why would the sister do such a horrible thing after she inherited lavish riches? The prime suspect is a spook in the dark known as the Black Nun. Can a ghost really spook a penguin? Shore links the nun’s death to a missing schoolgirl however her investigation disturbs the Black Nun. It’s good creepy moments inside the decaying house of nuns with spirit scares.
“The Circe Complex” is engrossingly complex. Tom Foreman steals a major amount of jewelry, but ends up getting caught after killing a policeman. He refuses to confess where he’s hidden the loot. Ollie Milton, the prison psychologist comes up with a scheme to spring the thief and get him to confess the location of the fortune. The escape plan goes perfectly well. But Milton’s technique to loosen Foreman’s lips is a disaster. Milton has to do his best to cover his tracks and keep on the prowl for the jewels. He even uses Foreman’s hot wife to distract the investigating detective. The tone of this episode keeps the action calm no matter how frantic the scenario. It’s quite British as Foreman continues with his dastardly plan. The shrink is obsessed with the missing riches.
“The Chelsea Murders” was the final installment of the series yet for some reason Thames scrapped releasing it as six episodes. They edited it together into a 103 minute movie. Both versions are featured in this boxset so you can take your pick. After the third murder in the posh Chelsea section of London, the police set up a task force. Their only clue is a poem. The killer appears to be connected to a artsy filmmaking crowd that use grotesque theatrical costumes in their production. Part of the way the police work in this film is reminiscent of The Wire. The cops aren’t treated as props for the suspects to prance around until the real killer’s demise. There’s a fine moment when the head of the task force that he will hear any outrageous theories about the suspects. When a young detective comes up with a long shot connection, the old dog accepts the new trick. Of the two versions, the movie cut has the better flow and tension.
Armchair Thriller: Set 2 has three mysteries that do thrill without over editing the action. The six episode story arcs make the series play like a book that’s a page turner. You don’t want stop till the final scene. There’s nothing mundane about these cases. “The Cirque Complex” is the best of the batch as the subterfuge turns into a whirlwind. The ending is satisfying as the madness leads to a full circle for the involved parties. It’s easy to see why they gave this series a night time Thames logo with the dark tone.
The video is 1.33:1 full frame. The episodes are a mix of interiors shot on video and exteriors in 16mm. The grit of the film and age of the video add to the texture of the series. The audio is Dolby Digital mono. The levels are fine even if you might have to turn up the volume to understand a few of the accents.
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Armchair Thriller: Set 2 has three above average murder mysteries. Even though the episodes are 25 minutes long, there’s nothing sitcom about the crimes and investigations. This is a wicked London after midnight.
Acorn Media presents Armchair Thriller: Set 2. Starring: Trevor Martin, Beth Morris, Maria Aitken, Brenda Bruce and Dave King. Boxset Contents: 4 mysteries on 4 DVDs. Released on DVD: March 16, 2010. Available at Amazon.com
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