Fallen Angel DVD > Reviews > Why not Who Dunnit!

Author's product rating:   

Did you enjoy it?	Liked it
Story	Good
Characters / Performances	Outstanding
Special Effects	Good
How does it compare to similar films?	Not applicable

Advantages:	Great three parter !
Disadvantages:	disturbing story !

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Fallen Angel

The Story

This is a disturbing story based on The Roth Trilogy by Andrew Taylor, looking into the mind of a child killer, it is more a case of why than who done it, shown as a three part drama on ITV the story was delivered in three sections, The future, The Present and The Past.

It was adapted for the screen by Peter Ransley who is also responsible for turning the novel Fingersmith into a screen play.

Rosie is a young girl who is looking for love from her father, working a priest he is not around much and Rosie is raised mainly by her mother and grandfather. Her mother is weak woman who suffers from depression, she is on the verge of a breakdown when her best friend Wendy comes to stay after a split from her husband.
While Wendy is staying with them a number of strange events unfold including the murder of Rosie's grandfather and the suicide of her mother.

As a young child that is a lot to go through so Rosie's father decides to dedicate all his attention onto his teenage daughter and as a result they have a very close bond. Rosie likes having all her fathers attention so when he announces her is remarrying Rosie is very put out of place. The addition of Wendy's son Michael coming to stay for the Easter doesn't help to Rosie's mood.

Over the Easter Rosie starts obsessing with religion and stories about sacrifice that have been around her all from an early age, she also starts to try and put her fathers new wife off by doing various things that she knows will annoy her. Young Michael starts to realise what she is up too and in the end finds his snooping leads him to witness something that will haunt him in years to come.

The Actors/ Characters

Rosie/Angel is played by the talented Emilia Fox, Rosie has many different personalities and with the help of wardrobe and make-up Emilia does an excellent job of showing the transitions that this young girl goes through. It can't have been an easy task getting in to the mind of one so disturbed but Emilia does a brilliant job off showing the many emotions Roes goes through.
Emilia Fox played the part of Nikki Alexander in Silent Witness.

David Rosie's father the priest is played by Charles Dance, heard of the phrase through nature or nurture? Well this is what David has to ask himself, are Rosie's actions the fault of his neglect as a child, should he is tried to stop her obsessions before they began?
Charles Dance is an excellent actor and plays this part brilliantly, his on screen chemistry with Clare Holman who plays Wendy is brilliant, again he had to show the transition in age and time and does a convincing job.

Wendy is played by Clare Holman, Wendy narrates the story , she herself has big part in Rosie's life and as well as helping to solve the crime has a big part in it happening in the first place.
Clare Holman is another great actress who has appeared in various things including the role of Dr. Laura Hobson in Inspector Morse.

My Thoughts

This was a great TV Drama and I was surprised how good it was, at first I thought it was going to be full of disturbing scenes and that I wouldn't like it, but I have to say the whole while disturbing did not show any scenes that where to over the top.

I really enjoyed the three parts and looking at the story from the different angels and ages, it was interesting to look back at the events that unfolded and lead to Rosie becoming what she was a child killer.

Where can I buy?

This three disc DVD is available from Amazon for £12.98  

Pictures for the review

Display pictures

Rosie