It seems Peacock is going all in on spy thrillers. It makes sense: like the ever-popular murder mystery genre, spy thrillers rely on a plot full of twists where every character is a suspect. Throw together some name actors and let them do their best with the material. When it fails, you move on to […]
Tag: Thriller
Run Away is high on thrills but low on sense
It’s a new year, which means Netflix is back with a new Harlan Coben adaptation. The prolific author continues to churn out new series at a pace just slightly faster than his published works. It’s a lucrative deal for both sides. Netflix loves content, and Coben remains one of the best content mills around. The […]
The Copenhagen Test is full of twists but offers little substance
Like many spy thrillers before it, The Copenhagen Test wants you to trust no one. Whether it’s a secret government agency, a mysterious bartender, or our protagonist, everyone is hiding something. There’s a reason so many spy stories go to that well. Besides being a great hook for the audience, it’s also natural for a […]
Little Disasters finds nothing authentic in its mom-based mystery
Being a mother is tough. This basic platitude means next to nothing coming from me, a childless man. My only real frames of reference are anecdotes from baby-rearing friends and childhood stories from my mom. It might mean a little more coming from the women in Little Disasters, a motherhood mystery that often feels like […]
Malice is a tepid thriller full of predictable turns
Malice lets you in on what it’s doing right away. From the moment we meet Adam (Jake Whitehall), we’re informed that he is here to ruin the life of this rich family. He doesn’t say it, but the way his kind mask drops when alone gives it away. Specifically, he’s here to ruin the life […]