Harper's Island: The DVD Edition

Perfect condition for it being “used”

I liked everything about it.

I love these types of shows where there is a mysterious killer picking people off one by one. I do think this show is one of the better ones, so long as you can get past the obvious tropes and cliches. I feel if you can get past the classic "people act stupid for the sake of plot" thing that this show will be very enjoyable. It's perfect for watching at night time with all the lights off.I did want to note that the pilot episode is so bad that I would give it an F. I actually almost didn't even continue the series because the acting was so horrible and it seemed like a cheesy direct-to-video slasher, however I'm glad I stuck with it as the acting gets better and better as the show goes on. Even by the second episode, it has gotten better.First the good:They do an excellent job of building over the course of 13 episodes. About half way through I remember wondering how they were going to continue for several more episodes, but it flowed very well episode to episode. Early on you may feel like there is a lot of filler, but in retrospect it was great to add necessary characterization. The groom's friends, while at first annoying, all turn out to be interesting characters.The not so good:There are several times per episode where I'd roll my eyes because the characters only did that stupid move so the plot could advance. It also gets laughable how often people just assume someone left the island without saying anything, even though that would never happen in real life. Again, they need to do that so the plot doesn't move along too fast, despite it having no basis in reality. Classic tropes to be aware of: thinking a missing person is safe despite knowing of murders recently occurring, constant splitting up to investigate in small groups of two or three, people not being able to shot someone with a shotgun at point blank range (this happened at least 3 separate occasions), a shotgun having one bullet and then being out of ammo (this happens multiple times), and the biggest one of all: people withholding valuable information or lying simply for the sake of plot.If you have seen TV shows like LOST, Pretty Little Liars or the like, then you are already aware of this TV trope. There are several times throughout the series where characters either directly lie to each other without any given reason or they withhold information until it is a bigger reveal for the audience. There is a massive plot hole in the show where a particular male character has been telling a lie consistently for several episodes and then is randomly like oh I was lying, and they just move on like it's no big deal. That nearly killed the show for me right there. All that person had to do was tell the truth from the start and the entire series would have been different. The only reason he didn't tell anyone? Because they needed to advance the plot. No reason at all for that character to have been lying to everyone.There is also a scene with a dog attack which makes zero sense within the context of the show. There was no reason whatsoever to that dog to have attacked when it did. It's meant to throw off suspicion to the viewer, but within the world of the show, there is no motivation for the dog's owner to have sent the dog after the people.The ending (spoiler free, but don't read if you don't want to know anything about it!):I hesitate to say anything about the end, but feel I have to after seeing so many posts where people said it was a shocking reveal. To me personally, the big reveal at the end of who the killer is was painfully obvious from the very FIRST episode. If you have a basic understanding of screen writing or story structure, it was clear who the killer was because so much of that character's story only works if he or she turned out to be the killer at the end. Otherwise there would have been no point to included various plot points. To make matters worse, IMO, they flat out confirm this character is the killer half way through. The other characters are just too stupid to realize it, but they flat out reveal it to the audience and then expect the audience to not know for the next several episodes.One episode ended and I turned to my wife and said "yup, I was right, they are the killer." and then the next episode starts and it's like everyone suddenly forgot. Then, surprise surprise, that character turns out to be the killer. The revealed killer's actions in the final episode are nonsensical and a classic trope of the genre. I'd actually say the final episode is the worst of the series outside of the pilot.It also bothered me that if you have seen a lot of slasher/stalker movies then you know by about the second episodes which characters will survive. There is nothing new or original, they are the exact tropes that ALWAYS survive these situations.Overall:So long as you are not bothered by the tropes that plague the genre, this is a very good show. It holds the viewers attention, has good characters and is a satisfying conclusion (not a cliffhanger). I'd recommend giving it a watch on rainy nights with all the lights off.

"Harper's Island" was initially advertised as a whodunit, a crime mystery. Don't be fooled by that: It's not a crime mystery at all, but more of a slasher series instead. Which is okay, once you know it.The story of the series frankly is not worth talking about. It's mostly just about who the killer is, and about his motivations (which are really lame). You can try guessing both during the run of the thirteen episodes, but it's not like you are presented with evidence that points you one way or another, because unfortunately the story really is that thin.That's not the only thing that keeps "Harper's Island" from getting five stars. The series' biggest problem are the first four episodes. They were really silly (people vanish and nobody even notices - really??), slow moving and full of characters you don't recognize and really don't care about if they get murdered.BUT (and that's a big "but") starting with episode five, the story geared up and the series finally became a thrilling ride right until the finale. While I was struggling to get through the first episodes, suddenly I couldn't stop watching and was really excited.There are still a few bad moments, which I would mostly consider to be bad and sloppy writing: Why in the world would you not kill a dangerous person if you're able to and you KNOW he will kill you once he gets a chance. And why do characters run into the killer all the time, when the island is not that small - as you can see from the exterior shots. Also, where are suddenly all of the island's inhabitants?Some people have criticised the identity of the killer revealed in the second to last episode. Though I do question his motives, I saw that twist coming from about halfway through the series (mild SPOILER following), so I guess it was set up that way and the episodes were written with him as the evil guy in mind: First, there was the scene at the harbor, when the dying person clearly was pointing his way, and then a little later on he gets stitched up by someone who asks him about certain wounds - and he just doesn't answer convincingly ('I don't remember' or something like that).All in all, I would recommend "Harper's Island" to someone who likes a good slasher movie and has a little patience to get through episodes one to four. Honorable mentions go out to the director of photography (nicely shot) and the actors Matt Barr, Christopher Gorham and Elaine Cassidy. Hope we haven't seen the last of them.

This was one of the first murder mystery television miniseries ever done and I LOVED IT!!! I have not been able to watch it yet so I cannot attest to the quality of the recording yet; but as soon as I do, I will update my review!

Nothing

I loved the mystery and it was on when I was sick and helped me stay alert and awake. Creepy and scary in all the right ways! Would have loved a season 2, but I was so excited to purchase this series. One of my all time favorites along with Pasadena, which I can’t find anywhere.

Schon im Fernsehen war er gut aber die Serie ist immer wieder sehenswert

Belle réalisation, on est tenue en haleine de bout en bout.

Eine Hochzeitsgesellschaft wird auf einer abgelegenen Insel mittels mehr oder weniger einfallsreicher Methoden "one by one" dahingemeuchelt bis zur überraschenden- man könnte auch sagen hirnrissigen - Auflösung, wer hinter diesem blutigen Rachefeldzug steckt."Harper's Island"('HI') ist keine Serie, die sich um Logik schert und hat das auch gar nicht nötig , denn sie überzeugt hauptsächlich durch ihr umwerfendes Ensemble. Bis in die kleinste Rolle sorgfältig besetzt, wird man beim zuschauen überwältigt vom perfekten Spiel der Mimen aus dem schier unerschöpflichen Pool hervorragender US-Schauspieler ohne große Namen (okay, die fantastische Elaine Cassidy als Abby Mills stammt aus Irland).Neben den darstellerischen Glanzleistungen ist es besonders in den ersten Folgen der irritierende Wechsel zwischen überzuckertem , seichtem Soap Stil und verblüffend intensiven Gewaltszenen, aus dem 'HI' seinen Reiz bezieht .Etwa ab der Mitte der Serie wird die Stimmung zunehmend düsterer, die Karten werden in jeder Episode neu gemischt, wem kann man noch trauen, wer fällt dem Wahnsinn als nächstes zum Opfer?Wenn am Ende die Masken fallen, ist man als Betrachter über den unlogischen Plot längst hinausgewachsen und unterliegt der Versuchung, allein wegen der gut gezeichneten Charaktere und der reinen Spielfreude aller Beteiligten nochmals von vorne zu beginnen.Große Kunst!P.S. Ein zusätzliches Zuckerl ist die unglaublich coole Performance der kleinen Cassandra Sawfell als Madison .......

Le décor : une riante petite île au large des côtes d'Amérique du Nord. Les protagonistes : la population insulaire à laquelle vient s'ajouter la trentaine d'invités à un mariage dans la bonne société locale, et surtout un tueur en série. But de l'histoire : faire de ce paradis une île déserte en éliminant tout ce petit monde. Alors, pendant une dizaine heures réparties en 13 épisodes, va se dérouler un véritable jeu de massacre, le plus souvent à l'arme blanche (hache, couteau, harpon, lance, pelle, sécateur...). Mieux vaut ne pas s'attacher aux personnages car on comprend très vite que tous sont susceptibles de disparaître (au rythme de 2 à 3 par épisode leurs rangs s'éclaircissent très vite!). Avec des poursuites en forêt, dans des souterrains, des locaux obscurs... des révélations en tous genres, des intervenants à double face...les frissons sont garantis. Les personnages sont très bien typés (la raison en est expliquée dans le making of), des histoires d'amour et de vengeance, voilà de quoi passer quelques heures passionnantes. A noter l'abondance des bonus : making of, interviews ...et surtout un extraordinaire site vidéo fictif tenu par la responsable du journal local et qui nous entraîne dans une enquête parallèle de près de 2 heures où interviennent quelques acteurs de la série.

Même si on comprend vite que les ficelles sont connues, puisque ce sont celles souvent reprises des dix petits nègres d'Agatha Christie, on se laisse prendre au jeu de cette intrigue bien menée !Le huis clos sur cette île est oppressant comme on aime, les personnages attachants et le suspens omniprésent.Lorsque l'on commence, difficile de s'arrêter et de ne pas enchaîner les épisodes...Et puis j'aime beaucoup ce format d'une série en une seule saison de 13 épisodes. Cela évite de tomber dans les dérives de ces séries qui s'étendent sur des années, s'essoufflent et où souvent les scénaristes se perdent eux-mêmes en route, ce qui gâche le plaisir des débuts.Une bonne série à découvrir !