Cold in July Written by Nick Damici and Jim Mickle Directed by Jim Mickle USA, 2013 In his last film, the horror remake We Are What We Are, co-writer and director Jim Mickle succeeded primarily because he took as long as possible to make explicit what was really going on with the central family unit. …
The most obvious element to take from last night’s Dexter, in terms of reference and connection, is the use of the titular song, a piece of music immortalized by Lost’s second season opener. But oddly, the twisty turny nature of the plot has a far greater debt to the show’s own history that, while hardly reeling back the years, acts as a very enlightening and thoughtful rethink of some of the series’ greatest themes. Revelations and shock reveals, another connection to ABC’s mega hit, show that as bizarre as it seems, the writing team has actually gone back and watched the seasons they didn’t write and have developed a nice echo to greater days. Following last week’s excellent “Are We There Yet?”, “Make Your Own Kind of Music” has found some consecutive consistency.
The trouble with ending a story is that too many people want too many different things, the author included, and quite often the natural endgame to set up is the one that people are afraid to see. It’s a scary thought, after all, if you’ve been invested in something for it to come to an end. We all want different things, have different expectations and not everyone will be satisfied with the result. With Scar Tissue, the fourth installment of Dexter’s final season, it has become clear that the last great chase will focus almost entirely on its two central characters, not villains of the week or rival serial killers. Unfortunately, with the episode’s indecisive conclusion, the chosen direction is not in the slightest bit clear. Fear, it seems, has crept into the men and women behind the TV monster.
For a long term fan, nearing the end of Dexter Morgan’s journey is an experience that holds a tangible fear and pang of panic in one’s stomach. Not because of the fact that it will soon all be over, one of TV’s most immorally ambitious tales ever reaching its final chapter. The trouble has come with the undeniable rut that has set in the minutes following the harrowing ending to Season Four, when a writing team who had canvassed together a quadrilogy of emotive, compelling and unforgettable continuing stories stepped out the back door. By September 22nd, this will mean that a full half of the show’s run has been beset by a gang of scribes who too often have revealed themselves as producing well financed fan fiction. The real fear, ultimately, is that they will screw it up at the punch. ‘A Beautiful Day’, the opening salvo of the last hurrah, proves inconclusive in this regard.
5-American Horror Story If you’ve yet to tune in to Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuck’s show American Horror Story, now’s your chance to catch up before the newest season kicks off this upcoming October. One of the more unique shows currently on air, each season acts as a new story. A new era, new location, …
When starting a new television show, the thing I look forward to the most is the title sequence, so it only felt right to devise this list when I heard the theme was favourite television shows this month. In early television there wasn’t a huge focus on title sequences; their only purpose was to present the …
Episode Reviews There’s no doubting that television has changed dramatically in the last few years, particularly in regards to the acclaimed serialized fiction shows that have ground out a new niche as cinematic storytelling per excellence. Think of how Mad Men, Boardwalk Empire, The Walking Dead, and Breaking Bad have utterly dwarfed episodic entertainment …
Dexter, Season 7, Episode 12: “Surprise, Motherf—r!” Written by Scott Buck & Tim Schlattmann Directed by John Dahl Airs Sundays at 8pm (ET) on Showtime When Dexter returned to the airwaves twelve short weeks ago it returned as if possessed by a ethereal phantom bearing the face of its old self but the fury of …
Dexter, Season 7, Episode 11: “Do You See What I See?” Written by Tim Schlattmann & Manny Coto Directed by Steve Shill Airs Sundays at 8pm (ET) on Showtime Christmas time has come, and all dear and dark Dexter wants is the future which is so tantalizingly close to his grasp. By this point, unfortunately, …
Dexter, Season 7, Episode 10: “The Dark…Whatever” Written by Lauren Gussis, Jace Richdale & Scott Reynolds Directed by Michael Lehmann Airs Sundays at 8pm (ET) on Showtime Having made a significant and risky decision within the show’s narrative last week, ‘The Dark…Whatever’ proved to be a battle of how many steps backwards by the Dexter …
Dexter, Season 7, Episode 8: “Argentina” Written by Tim Schlattmann Directed by Steve Shill Airs Sundays at 8pm (ET) on Showtime It’s already been noted by numerous reviewers and fans since the start of the season, but the levels of unpredictability within the latest Dexter saga simply know no bounds, and this was driven home …
Dexter, Season 7, Episode 8: “Argentina” Written by Arika Lissane Mittman Directed by Romeo Tirone Airs Sundays at 8pm (ET) on Showtime Last night’s Dexter could just as easily be called ‘There’s No Place Like Home’, such was the focus on daunting realizations and lack of closure brought up by its train of thought. By …
Dexter, Season 7, Episode 7: “Chemistry” Written by Tim Schlattman Directed by Holly Dale Airs Sundays at 8pm (ET) on Showtime There was a moment during last night’s episode of Dexter in which this reviewer blinked in surprise, suddenly aware of something very significant occurring which had been too familiar to consciously recognize as it …
Dexter, Season 7, Episode 6: “Do the Wrong Thing” Written by Lauren Gussis Directed by Alik Sakharov Airs Sundays at 8pm (ET) on Showtime As the title suggests, the latest hour of Dexter’s revival features a number of characters making fraught and potentially regrettable choices as the lethal ballet depicted by Season Seven’s richly dark …
Dexter, Season 7, Episode 5: “Swim Deep” Written by Scott Reynolds Directed by Ernest Dickerson Airs Sundays at 8pm (ET) on Showtime While tactical thinking may have ensured Dex briefly escapes an inevitable checkmate, three other characters unwittingly either move further into a likely ambush or are about to become more than simple pawns to …
Dexter, Season 7, Episode 4: “Run” Written by Wendy West Directed by John Dahl Airs Sundays at 8pm (ET) on Showtime It’s all about the past in the latest installment of Dexter’s revival, and also a rather dark glimpse at how an uncertain future will be dictated by events past. Despite its teasing misnomer of …
Dexter, Season 7, Episode 3: “Buck the System” Written by Jace Richdale Directed by Stefan Schwartz Airs Sundays at 9pm (ET) on Showtime At the tail end of this week’s episode of Dexter, something wonderfully familiar occurred: a change in direction of plot dictated by well penned conversational exchange, followed by a distinctive musical accompaniment, …
Dexter, Season 7, Episode 2: “Sunshine & Frosty Swirl” Written by Manny Coto Directed by Steve Shill Airs Sundays at 9pm (ET) on Showtime So far, Dexter’s seventh season has been defined by conversations, meaningful exchanges loaded with significance and potentially lethal consequences. Given how last week’s “Are You…?” concluded, with Debra discovering Dexter’s secret …
Dexter, Season 7, Episode 1: “Are You…?” Written by Scott Buck Directed by John Dahl Airs Sundays at 9pm (ET) on Showtime After ten months spent on the knife edge of a startling cliffhanger, Dexter finally returns to our screens with a bang, galactic shocks, and the tantalizing sense that season seven could well see …
Ever since it first aired in 2006, Dexter has continuously paid dividends for its network, Showtime, drawing in huge viewing figures, critical acclaim and fully merited award recognition for its taut, supremely crafted and morally duplicitous sagas following the existence of TV’s favorite serial killer. That essential entertainment, however, is on the wane. Like another …
The Broadcast Television Journalists Association has just announced their nominations for the first Critics’ Choice Television Awards. Modern Family leads the comedoes with six nominations, while Boardwalk Empire, The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones and The Killing dominate the drama series. We’ve been focussing more and more on television here at Sound On Sight and …
Put together to compete in the SXSW Title Design Competition, Ian Albinson has edited a large mix of some of the greatest film and television titles ever made. Slashfilm reports that the websites mission is: A compendium and leading web resource of film and television title design from around the world. We honor the artists …
Showtime series has released a Dexter parody video titled appropriately Dexter in 60 Seconds. I’ll admit it isn’t very good but I assume some people will find enjoyment in it. Try to enjoy.