Rowan Abraham

Rowan AbrahamAn interesting expansion of the world building, but not a page turner.

Rowan AbrahamJessica Ferguson has some depth and some of the inserted material adds to her character but overall the first season fails to understand the emotional highlights of the novel(las?). Many things feel changed for convenience, and even with the perspective of someone who hadn't read the book the show would leave you feeling unimpressed. A litany of changes with the source material await you, and it'd be great if those changes addressed the weaknesses of Hugh's tight novel, but those changes instead seem to neglect the *strengths* of the novel. The sheriff gasping for air and realizing his helmet has a screen, the arduous walk down and up with the deputy and mayor where they hold hands like schoolchildren, Juliette demanding the sheriff position comes with time to realign the generator; all of these are removed to make way for backfill to create room for invented prequel storylines. Even the animosity between Juliette and Bernard is replaced with the sheriff's assistant, who plays such a small role in the novel that I don't think the character even exists. I'll keep watching, but I'm somewhat disappointed.

Rowan AbrahamIt's well worth a watch and a rewatch.

Rowan AbrahamI finished this movie and immediately rewatched it. A surreal, deeply artistic film with a strong theme. Easily the strongest film of the year.

Rowan AbrahamRemarkable performances and a compelling narrative device really takes this show from good to great.

Rowan AbrahamIt's fun enough.

Rowan AbrahamA great read that subverts your expectations in remarkably competent ways. There are no wasteful twists but plenty of chaotic, uncertain events that have you waiting anxiously for them to unfold. I commend the author's first dozen or so chapters in reeling in the audience's expectations within a heavily established genre where we all know what happens next.