Wednesday 11 February 2015

Bloodlust Episode Ten written by Alan Flanagan, Will Howells & Joe Lidster and directed by Ursula Burton & David Darlington

What's it about: Some describe it as the town at the edge of the world. When Melody and Michael Devereux come to Collinsport on their honeymoon, they don't know the secrets that are hidden behind closed doors. But those secrets will be unearthed when an innocent is viciously murdered. Collinsport will be a town divided. One woman's rise to power will lead to further death and destruction. Families will be ripped apart. Blood will be spilt. And the dark forces that wait in the shadows will wait no more. For in Collinsport, death is never the end...

The Cunninghams: No matter how much she tries to avoid it seems that the supernatural touches Amy Cunningham wherever she turns. She loves her son whatever he might be but is clearly disturbed at the truth about his condition and directs her anger at Quentin.

Standout Performance: Stephanie Ellyne again. She's been a stalwart of the serial since episode two but she has just gotten better and better with every release. Asta Parry is also superb, the last two episodes giving her some truly meaty material to get her teeth into. Kate's reaction to her cravings is something to behold, a desperate woman who needs to feed and Parry doesn't hold back.

Sparkling Dialogue: 'I love you...but I am so hungry!'

Great Ideas: Maggie Evans has starting a round of mandatory blood tests for all citizens of Collinsport. It is a very Draconian attitude to take...but really, if they are going down this course of segregating the supernatural and the normal what other choice do they have? At the moment Maggie is looking after those who light has been thrown on but it does make me wonder how long before these 'unnatural' elements are safe. Mob rule usually leads to somebody being blamed for all the problems and dealt with in a permanent manner. Angelique is mighty bitter and suggests letting Collinsport tear itself apart. The Strix is a demon, a stealer of souls. Could it be responsible for everything that has been happening in Collinsport. David Collins is a piece of work. A manipulative son of a bitch, he thinks he owns the town and he is prepared to distract Amy so Tommy's transformation occurs and he rips Quentin limb from limb. Barnabas seizing upon Kate in the previous episode has had a profound effect on her and she is starting to feel the influence of a vampires hunger. 

Audio Landscape: This episode opens on a stunning piece of direction, a hallucinatory audio experience that quite took my breath away. Creepy, atmospheric and surreal. It felt like I was watching the audio equivalent of a Twin Peaks dream sequence. Water running, baby crying, child's lullaby playing, a wolf howling, alarm clock, crowd scenes, pouring a drink, a phone dialling out, birdsong, heartbeat, heavy breathing, cocking a gun, screaming, growling, bats screaming...

Musical Cues: More unearthly music courtesy of David Darlington, a haunting range of themes that course through the episode like dark blood pumping through veins.

Isn't it Odd: For once the cliffhanger is entirely predictable but that doesn't matter one jot because of the exciting implications.

Standout Scene: Oh Kate, Kate, Kate...there's no turning back after that last scene.

Result: 'You're going to be torn apart by your own son, little girl!' The shit has really hit the fan now. It would seem that there isn't anybody that isn't cursed by the supernatural in this range, that nobody can lead a normal life and I wouldn't have it any other way. For the first two thirds this is quite a sedate piece, all told but with lots of ominous foreshadowing and gloriously atmospheric direction. However the whole piece explodes in the last ten minutes with some of the most dramatic material yet. Kate, Tommy and David all show their true colours and there is plenty of blood running the streets of Collinsport before the episode is over. I love the fact that nobody is safe, it is the sort of electric in the air excitement that you don't have with the classic series main range Doctor Who stories because TV continuity gives the regulars immunity. Dark Shadows isn't working to the same rules and it enjoys a spectacular culling in this instalment. Three episodes to go and so many questions still to be answered...it is thrilling to listen to this series come to fruition and pay off so many of its plot threads. Returning to humdrum normal life after a thirteen episode waltz through the dark streets of Collinsport is going to be a drag: 9/10

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