Each year from 2001 to 2005, I think, around one of the bank holidays in either May or August, there would be something on television that amazed me. Now, let me state from the outset that the whole reason it amazed me was the fact that it was something that, in a normal world, I would not seek to watch...

You see, much as I like a rollicking good drama or film, there is one genre that I (literally) cannot stomach - horror movies. I am quite happy to see a good story, but when it is accompanied with much bloodletting, dismemberment and general goriness I would much rather watch a documentary on flower arranging and keep hold of the contents of my stomach.

Messiah

The original drama, 'Messiah' , was broadcast in 2001. It is based on a novel by Boris Starling. It was broadcast as two episodes, each of 90 minutes' duration.

Its sequel, 'Messiah II : Vengeance is Mine', was broadcast in 2003.

Each of the two stories has a core cast:

DCI Red Metcalfe - Ken Stott
DI Duncan Warren - Neil Dudgeon
DS Kate Beauchamp - Frances Grey
DCS Emerson - Art Malik
Susan Metcalfe - Michelle Forbes
Eric Metcalfe - Kieran O'Brien

Redfern 'Red' Metcalfe is a policeman who does not deal with run-of-the-mill cases. He is often confronted with having to solve the cases of serial murderers, serial murderers who seem to use the same M.O (modus operandi). He tries to work out why the killer is acting as he or she is by working out if there are links to the victims or if there is a meanign behind the way in which they are murdered.

Red also has a social life that needs work, as it were. He is estranged from his younger brother, Eric, and his work is often so extreme that he does not physically take his work home with him, but it plays on his mind and affects his relationship with his wife, Susan, who is deaf, and with whom Red communicates by means of Sign Language.

The Cases

In the first series, Red has to work out what links the murders of a number of seemingly unrelated men, Each of them is killed in a separate way, but each of them is stripped down to their underpants and the killer has left a particularly gruesome calling card - he or she cuts out the victim's tongue and replaces it with a metal spoon.

The murders in series 2 appear, at first glance, to be totally unrelated, apart from the fact that they are gruesome ( please excuse spoilers but they include being buried alive, garotted and electrocuted).

Storylines and Quality of Acting

Well, I can simply say that these are top-notch. I am often exasperated by the quality of TV drama, and the most hyped-up whodunnit can give away so many clues that you know who did it within the first 30 minutes. 'Messiah' and 'Messiah II' definitely gave me the runaround. Even as the dénouement came along I was still catching up with it, working out why the person who transpired to be the murderer was the murderer. However please do not think on the strength of that comment that the plots are overly complex. The writing is taut and there are no cases where the scriptwriter gets to the end and comes up with a simple 'deus ex machina' to explain it all away.

What you get in each story is 3 hours of fantastically enthralling viewing that will leave you guessing throughout,

This fantastic storytelling is accompanied by brillant acting, led by Ken Stott. I have always been an admire of his acting, but in these stories he is superb - you can see exactly in his face the emotional turmoil or psychological runaround that Red is going through. He and Michelle Forbes learned BSL for the scenes between Red and his wife. He is not a bumbling copper who comes across the correct answer by chance, he works everything out and then tries to second guess the murderer's next move.

Stott is supported by an excellent support cast, and some excellent guest stars, such as Gillian Taylforth, Alun Armstrong and Edward Woodward.

Caveats

I feel I must include this bit, so please excuse me if it does include a minor spoiler or two.

These are not simple murders. They are often dreamt up by very calculating murderers who have a clear reason for killing int he manner which they intend. Therefore I must state categorically that I do not feel that these stories are suitable for those of a sensitive nature or for children, The DVD is Certificate 15 - There are some images of strong horror and torture. Murders such as being beheaded or crucified do not lend themselves to general family viewing.

DVD Extras

There are not many DVD extras. There are deleted scenes for series one and a feature (about 15 minutes) on how they set up the murders for series two.

Then again, I do not feel the extras are necessary for these stories.

The Verdict

This is a world of tortured souls, and tortured and horrifically murdered people. The murders, and the imagery of them, is central to the plot. They are not gratuitously glamourised in the way that they might be in some Hollywood 'gorno' or 'torture porn' feature, but they are not for the squeamish.

And that, dear reader, is the reason why I am baffled. I am baffled because I find them unsettling, disturbing, but ultimately enthralling and fantastic.

Messiah and Messiah II: Vengeance is Mine
BBC DVD
Running time approximately 6 hours
Certificate 15

I got mine on Amazon for £6.50!