What's it about: Some describe it as the town at the edge of the
world. When Melody and Michael Devereux come to Collinsport
on their honeymoon, they don't know the secrets that are hidden behind closed
doors. But those secrets will be unearthed when an innocent is viciously
murdered. Collinsport will be a town
divided. One woman's rise to power will lead to further death and destruction.
Families will be ripped apart. Blood will be spilt. And the dark forces that wait in the shadows will wait
no more. For in Collinsport, death is never the end...
Andrew Cunningham: A control freak and a misogynist, Andrew
convinces Amy that she doesn't want to have a night out so he can head out and
have a game cards with the lads. He patronisingly calls her a 'good girl' and
stops shy of patting her on the head. The more they build this arsehole up for
a fall, the more delicious it is going to be when it happens. He is so deluded
that he thinks he can control a spirit like Angelique, offering her the less
than flattering terms of doing what he wants or else. I bet he was the little
boy in the playground that reflected the sun through magnifying glasses and
burnt ants alive. If he wants spells that will make him the big man about town
then he has to earn it the hard way. Andrew knows his wife's secrets, her
dabbling in the paranormal before she met him. It might be borrowed knowledge
but he has rummaged through her books and acquired a little dark power of his
own. Enough for it to go to his head, certainly. Like a lot of relationships
there is an awful lot unsaid or fabricated and just as Amy has left her
supernatural past a blank, it appears Andrew has been stacking up the lies to
his wife too (specifically about his redundancy money). This is a marriage that
is starting to unravel, where both parties have their secrets.
Angelique: The spirit in the cave has lived centuries. She
has loved, lost and loved again, transcending time and space and death. She has
known great darkness and great power and there is little that can surprise or
frighten her now. It appears like a charitable act when she releases Andrew but
I am certain his torment has only just begun.
Standout Performance: Matthew Waterhouse continues to
impress, he's attacking this material with the sort of passion you don't expect
in audio drama. Andrew is a piece of work and then some and Waterhouse isn't
afraid to make him as despicable as possible. They say villains are the most
enjoyable roles and he is living up to that maxim with relish.
Great Ideas: Nobody knew Melody Devereaux so who would kill
a complete stranger? A random attack? A maniac? Maybe somebody was visiting
that did know her? Her husband is practically a choir boy and doesn't seem
capable. How do you proceed with a case when you have absolutely no leads
whatsoever? When you have been through all the probable causes of
exsanguination do you then turn to the supernatural as a possibility? We
finally get to participate in one of Maggie Evans' late night congregations but
her endgame is far from clear.
Audio Landscape: A thriving pub atmosphere, doors opening
and closing, hands clapping, telephone ring, Angelique's screams, flames
crackling.
Result: I'm starting to really fall in love with Matthew
Waterhouse's deliciously twisted turn as Andrew Cunningham. There is simply
nothing remotely likable about this man and the tides are gathering about his
head. The games between Andrew and Angelique are the highlight of this episode,
his insane notion that he has the power to harm her and the way she playfully lets
him believe that he has conquered her. I have so many questions about both of
these characters that have yet to be answered but there is still a long way to
go yet. I want to know what Maggie Evans is planning, I want to know who killed
Melody and I want to know why Angelique let Andrew go...like all good soap
operas the treads are trickling through the serial, gathering momentum, teasing
us with anticipation. The cliffhanger ending to this story was completely
unexpected - where do we go from here? It feels like in Collinsport, anything
could happen and that is an exciting feeling: 8/10
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