The "pilot" for a British crime series -(Review contains no spoilers)
Unlike my fellow Amazon Top 100 reviewer, K Harris (whose reviews I admire) , I was unfamiliar with the character of Chief Inspector DC Banks before seeing this film. Research after watching this DVD (I'm not a fan of "spoilers" and trusted the BBC label to give me a good detective story) I learned that this was a two-part "pilot" for a series that ran two seasons. (It was edited into one 90 minute "film" - I did notice a brief "pause" in the middle). So, if you are new to the character, I can only recommend that - like any good mystery - you go in knowing as little as possible before watching it.
There is a murder (in fact a few) and they are bloody (no spoiler here) and the story is told using flashback at points (in a creative way). The only thing that made me drop a star in my rating is that the action takes time out for a "romantic interlude" which detracts from the flow. (At least for me.)
The film is based on a novel (which I guess gets expanded in the...
A Gritty Two Part Case Kicks Off The DCI Banks Saga And Serves As A Great Character Introduction
If you love contemporary cop shows and you haven't checked out the "DCI Banks" series, I'd strongly recommend that you take a look into it! This intense and no-nonsense offering from Britain plays by the rules of typical TV crimes procedurals, to be sure, but it does so with a refreshingly hard edge. "DCI Banks" ran for two six episode seasons in 2011 and 2012, but it kicked off in 2010 with the effective two-parter "Aftermath" (here combined and released at the feature length of ninety minutes). Some people, therefore, might consider this Season One of the Banks saga but really it's just a movie that introduces the primary characters who will extend into the following TV series. But whatever you want to call it, "Aftermath" is a gritty and entertaining film adapted from the popular novel by Peter Robinson. It may not necessarily be my favorite Banks case, but it does a great job introducing the characters and setting the mood that serves the series so well. First and foremost,...
AS PILOT'S GO, ONE OF THE BEST
Wetted my desire to see the series. DCI Banks is very emotional for a police officer... The Yorkshire countryside can look like scences from Midsomer Murders.
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