Monday 19 January 2015

Dark Shadows: Bloodlust Episode Two written by Alan Flanagan, Will Howells & Joseph Lidster and directed by Ursula Burton & David Darlington

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...

Amy Cunningham: Amy was finishing up her studies in Salem and keeping Carolyn on the straight and narrow and eventually she managed to snatch a position at the British library. A year or so later she was taking a beginners Spanish class and Andrew walked in and it was love at first sight. Andrew's first wife bolted and left him with a six year old and a mortgage that would make your eyes bleed.

Standout Performance: Scott Haran's voice is so distinctive from his role as Tom Clarke in Wizards vs. Aliens that I had a little trouble distinguishing him from that role at first. I guess that is the trouble that any actor has when they have played a popular role for a long time. Matthew Waterhouse doesn't have the same problem since his voice has noticeably matured since his stint as Adric and he plays Andrew Cunningham with something approximating his own natural voice as opposed to the lilting, child-like tone of Adric in the Doctor Who audios.

Sparkling Dialogue: 'This is Collinsport...it's never the wind.'

Great Ideas: Melody Devereux's body was entirely drained of blood...I'm sure I am not the only person to make the obvious connection.

Audio Landscape: Car screeching off the road, screaming baby, rain lashing, a car rushing past, doorbell, smashing glass, whispering voices.

Isn't it Odd: It might have been naive of me but I was expecting a Twin Peaks style investigation into the murder of Melody Devereux to kick start from the beginning of the second instalment. I was a little confused when another set of newcomers came to town because it feels like a replay of the events of episode one.

Result: 'Remember me?' On par with episode one, this episode feels lacking in some respects because it feels a little like a retread with new characters heading to Collinsport but there are enough hints of excitement for the rest of the story to keep the interest levels high. Bloodlust features a large cast for an audio drama (especially for Big Finish) and is adhering to the rules of a soap opera to tease the answers out each week and never offer too much, too early. As such this is playing out much like a current American serial style TV show, you have to wait to be completely satisfied and take in the manifest of subplots and hope that they all tie together satisfactorily in the end. We've found our way back to the cave, there is an intriguing link between the Devereux and Cunningham plots, a Beyond the Grave presenter is introduced and the murder investigation is underway...there is an awful lot going on and plenty to sink its claws into you. Less introductions next time and more embellishments of the characters already introduced and we will be in fine shape: 7/10


1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Surprisingly but true, Matthew Waterhouse gives a much more convincing, passionate and emotional performance here that his old and borings castmates on "Mistfall".