Lovesusti The Worst Film Ever

Solidrariol Am I Missing Something?

Dirtylogy It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

Logan By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

katharineshowalter First let me say, I love Joanne Froggatt. She is a beautiful and compelling actress and I want to see more of her in better movies and series. In fact, all the actors in DARK ANGEL are very good. Laura Morgan, Emma Fielding, and Jonas Armstrong are standouts, and Alun Armstrong can do no wrong. However, the writing and direction of DARK ANGEL leave much to be desired. Mary Ann Cotton's motivations are very sketchy -- something vaguely feminist and she states that she wanted "more" -- and so it is very hard to sympathize with her character. What we are left with is a glorified crime re-enactment from one of those exploitative Dateline or crime channel shows. What's worse is that the series creators try to suggest some ambiguity about some of the killings, which comes off as coy rather than clever. And then at times the juxtaposition of her being a tight spot to a quick cut to a corpse is almost comic. Mary Ann Cotton deserves a better treatment. There is much more to her story than is shown here.

George Wright This is not a feel-good movie. However, it is a very good drama. For me, it made for good television viewing. It deals with the evil of murder and in this case, guilt does not get in the way. Joanne Froggatt, one of the stars of Downton Abbey as Lady Mary's servant and close companion, is the Dark Angel. Her role in this movie is totally different and she performs it superbly. This is not a glossy presentation and it shows with vivid reality, the hardship of life for both men and women. Men working in unskilled jobs are treated badly and their wives suffered the brunt of their humiliation. One of the interesting aspects of this movie is how she steps out of the role that was prescribed for women in Victorian times. She is very unhappy with how badly women of her status were treated and has no hesitation in using her cunning to survive. The movie deals with relationships, class, lust, secrecy, trickery, betrayal. Make no mistake, serial murder is no way to deal with life's unfairness. What this story shows is where desperation can lead. This woman is intelligent, beautiful and capable of strong friendship. The movie doesn't hold back in this honest portrayal of Victorian life.

Ralph-Jennings Not sure which side of the bed (or whose) the other reviewer -ianlouisana got out of but maybe is a relation to Boris or permanently repressed. I found this two part serial compelling viewing, well researched, flavour and atmosphere of the times reminiscent of The Village with John Simm and Maxine Peake. Women in Victorian times had a place in society that was subservient and dependent upon male vanity and compassion. Not until after WWI, despite some notable exceptions, do they gain the independence of spirit and opportunity to exist outside the bounds of duty and childbirth. This tale relates the story of a tormented soul torn between the poorhouse and an institution she cannot or will not join. Serial killers deserve to be hanged (so was the punishment of the day) regardless of their gender. Watch and be moved by this TV drama.

ianlouisiana Carelessly written (viz above) monotonously depressing,permanently gloomy piece that I have read elsewhere as being presented as a portrait of a "Strong Woman"in an overwhelmingly male - dominated society. Don't you believe it. "Dark Angel" allegedly tells the story of reputedly the first woman serial killer, a vicious yet pathetic creature who murders at will despite knowing she will assuredly hang( or because,possibly). Starting with a jolly scene in the Death Cell things go downhill quickly as the Dark Angel murders baby and adult alike until even the Victorian plod begin to suspect something about her is amiss. I daresay today she would plead childhood abuse and have any surviving children returned to her and be awarded a full - time team of social workers. Everybody overacts like mad and the Lothario gets a knee - trembler in the first reel before he even knows her name as far as I can make out. It has been said that Victorian working - class women either sold their bodies or sewed shirts ( a contemporary painting "The song of the shirt" offers the clues snapped up by eager middle - class Gallery - goers)The Dark Angel showed there was a "Third Way" with a result that was only too predictable.