TotalTelly.co.uk

Devoted to Popular, Cult and Retro TV

Afterlife [2005]


RRP: £19.99
Our Price: £7.76 (subject to change)

Editorial
Synopsis

Alison survived a train crash in which many people lost their lives... Alison is now in touch with the spirits of the dead who come to her for help... Moving to a new area she lies low and seeks solace which she finds in a University Professor, very much a sceptic. He begins to write a book based on Alison's experiences, privately mourning the death of his young son. Together they forge a kind of friendship each searching for answers.


Not quite convincing
Review date: 2008-06-29 Rating: 6 out of 10

Hmmm.

I'm not a believer in the subject matter, but that doesn't mean that I can't enjoy getting lost in a good ghost story.

The incidental music was beautiful and plaintive but it doesn't feature that prominently.

Like people say, there's no flashy effects and so I was anticipating an intelligent escape into ghostland whilst seeing relationships unfold.

It's slightly intriguing in parts but not particularly gripping or scary...and the relationships don't quite ring true to me. I'm not sure if it is the acting or the writing but, whilst she is emotional, Ms. Sharp seems to have had a zombie implant half the time, delivering lines in a rather vacant or wooden manner. I don't think this is intended character vulnerability. However, others seem to think this is wonderful so I might be missing something.

They try to build a tension that she might be mad...and there are various links questioning psychiatry...but the viewers 'know' she's for real...and know that she is a reluctant 'psychic', struggling with her 'curse', although there is never anything that proves this convincingly to anyone but the viewers.

As for the ambivalent relationship between the medium, Alison Mundy, and Robert Bridge the psychologist...he's a bit of an interfering body, isn't
he. If he's so anti, why does he visit Mundy so easily before they've agreed to do the 'book' together? They run more 'hot and cold' than a teenage first relationship. It becomes clear that he's got his own issues with a death, but he remains sceptical about the spiritworld.

Whilst I can understand why (in ep1), he might want to look after the interests of his student, why (in ep2), would he bother to go to the parents' house to 'warn' them about Mundy? Again, interfering, yet they continue to serve him tea rather than asking him to leave. By ep5, he's still going round houses warning folk.

In ep6, she runs home terrified and someone breaks down her front door and bursts in...but what does she do? she listens to what they have to say and asks "What do you want from me?" Hmmm.

I would imagine that after the events of ep6, their relationship will change and he'll perhaps be less sceptical (?) but I don't feel the need to rush to get series 2 to finish it off.

Oh, I wanted to like it more...and it wasn't completely lame, but it was, disappointingly, less than it might have been.


Similar Products

Reviews


NICE SURPRISE !!
Review date: 2007-06-27 Rating: 10 out of 10

ONLY BOUGHT THIS DVD ON SPEC. FOUND IT TO BE A VERY PLEASENT
SURPRISE.HADENT SEEN THE SERIES BEFORE AND I THOUGHT IT WAS VERY GOOD.

IT`S NICE TO BUY A DVD YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT AND THEN TO FIND OUT IT IS SO GOOD.

WISH ALL MY PICKS WERE AS GOOD.


Spooks 'n' semis
Review date: 2007-04-04 Rating: 8 out of 10

Can't be quite as excited as the other reviewers about this series, although it's painstakingly put together in its attempts to place the supernatural firmly in the world of the mundane. Lesley Sharp is extremely good as the medium Alison Mundy, although her strongest performances are in the first and last episodes - episode six is one of the scariest things I've seen on TV for quite some time. A minus for me was the sometimes jaw droppingly bad script. A series which tries so hard to appear realistic needs to have believable dialogue, and for me the scripts - not the stories - were on occasion a real let down. The supporting cast are all first rate - a bit too much reliance on the J-horror inspired ghostly appearances, but overall very good.

BRILLIANT!
Review date: 2006-10-22 Rating: 10 out of 10

I was lucky enough to catch this on TV when it was on. My husband didn't manage to watch it and I missed a few episodes so I am thrilled to find it on DVD (I have even bought the series 1 & 2 box set out on boxing day!)
I loved how the stories progress and how she comes to term with her `talent' and how some mediums abuse it but she just wants a quiet life.
Its smashing I can't wait to sit down in front of the telly over Christmas and watch them all.


THE best paranormal drama!!
Review date: 2006-10-07 Rating: 10 out of 10

If you have even the slightest interest in ghosts and the unexplained, this is highly recommended viewing. Of course, ill say the cliche that even if you dont, this drama is gripping and emotional enough to keep viewers watching to the series finale (which is utterly breath-taking by the way!)
Lesley Sharp excellently portrays Alison's emotional struggles and troubles in 'Afterlife', proving a scarily believable psychic medium, accompanying a brilliant cast of characters, creating poor Alison's often terrifying world of the undead.
This is a must-have dvd! Buy it NOW!! I have! haha

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Cara Horgan
Andrew Lincoln
Lesley Sharp

Creators:
Lesley Sharp (Primary Contributor)
Andrew Lincoln (Primary Contributor)

Director(s):

Recording label: 2 Entertain Video
Manufacturer: 2 Entertain Video
EAN: 5014138600013
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2005-10-31
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 282 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2005-09-24
Language: English (Original Language)

Add to Cart

© 2006 Darren Hester, DesignsByDarren.com, Some Rights Reserved.
Valid XHTML 1.0 Transitional