HarpersIsland

Harper’s Island (2009)

Let me just start off this review by saying that Harper’s Island is pure genius. The idea here for the show is that over a limited run (13 episodes) you get a murder mystery played out. A group of friends returns to Harper’s Island for the wedding of Henry and Abby, childhood sweethearts that had met on the island years before. What they don’t realize until it is too late is that a killer has followed them there and is picking them off one at a time. But who is the killer and what is the motivation for the murder spree? As the episodes play out suspects are introduced and eliminated as the plot twists and turns thru a satisfying story that keeps the audience guessing until almost the end.

This really is an entertaining and engaging series. I watched this one with my lovely wife and we managed to get thru all 13 episodes in 3 days! There was definitely some late nights there as we both did the whole “one more episode before bed” thing. But the truth is that each of the episodes leaves you with a mini cliffhanger that had us wanting to check out the next episode immediately. The show is so well written for the first 12 episodes that it sucks you in. Not to pat myself on the back, but I’m a huge mystery fan and for the most part I always figure these things out way before the big reveal at the end. This show did a great job keeping me guessing and it wasn’t until the suspect list was cut down (thru some creatively staged deaths) that I even had an idea who the killer was. The writing also does a great job establishing some great characters that you really want to root for and feel bad for when things don’t go well for. I hardly ever watch anything on T.V. because I’m of the opinion that most of what is has to offer is worthless. But more shows like Harper’s Island could easily make me change my mind.

The only complaint that I have about the show is that the final episode sort of feels like it was added on. I don’t want to give anything away or give any spoilers but there is almost an entire episode that happens after the authorities have arrived on the island and things have all been revealed that just doesn’t seem to flow with the rest of the series. The first 12 episodes have this really cool vibe and pace to them that is missing in the final episode. Overall this is a minor complaint, but it sort of was a drag to have an ending like that to such a great show.

So this is a review of the DVD that is due out on September 8th and I’m not sure if it is what was broadcast when it aired. But either way I was kind of impressed with the kills and some of the gore that is in the show. You get some great kills including one character getting cut in half, a harpoon to the chest, several hangings, and a barmaid that gets skewered with some kind of harpoon thing. Toss in some cool looking post kills effects like both halves of one victim in a tree and the results of the shotgun to the face and you have an impressive bit of gore for a broadcast T.V. show. Not terribly gory, but it put a smile on my face. The rest of the technical bits are all up to snuff for a network show with the sound and picture all top notch.

Bottom line here is that I’m going to recommend that everyone take the time to check out Harper’s Island. Genre fans really don’t have much to watch on network television, so when we gets something cool like this we need to support it, even if it is after the fact and on DVD. Oh and the show is actually killer, so go get yourself a copy when it comes out!

3 ½ out of 4

reviewed by John Shatzer