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Harper's Island

Amber Borycki as Beth in Harper's Island
  • Posted at 11:23am
  • 17 September 2009
  • by AlisonGraham-RT
  • 9 comments

It's impossible to resist Harper's Island, the US murder-mystery series (Sundays BBC3, BBC HD). Short of pitching my tent on a mountain and refusing to come down until it's over, I've tried everything, even sitting with my back to the telly while reading an improving book (Ulysses last week). But nothing works and I've always cracked by the end of the opening credits.

Because Harper's Island is brilliant. It's as shallow as a drained swimming pool and has shamelessly borrowed every convention and set-up in the known horror/slasher film and TV-crime universe. It's packed with cheap shocks - and I mean really cheap: snooping characters are constantly surprised when other characters tap them on the shoulder; people walk through spooky woods at night and are startled by creaky noises, that kind of thing.

Harper's Island is a classic, Agatha Christie-type murder mystery - Poirot with bikinis: members of a wedding party on a remote, expensive island are picked off in gruesome ways by an unseen murderer who might be a serial killer who's come back from the dead.

It all works superbly and somehow it still surprises, despite its hackneyed aspects. There's a genuinely eerie undercurrent, too, thanks to a sinister little girl who recites a strange rhyme about people dying "one by one".

No-one should look too closely at Harper's Island's characters, who are made entirely from lip gloss and crepe paper. All the girls wear swimsuits and the boys show their buff torsos at every opportunity. There's a stock English eccentric who, unnervingly, is a dead ringer for a young Martin Amis, and a wicked dad who doesn't want his rich daughter to marry a penniless boy. Throw in some light bondage and there's something for everyone.

Alison Graham is TV editor of Radio Times

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Comments

  • Posted on 26 October 2009
  • at 8:11pm
  • by Snippies

Loved it and now miss it terribly - I was completely hooked every Sunday evening.

  • Posted on 11 October 2009
  • at 9:04pm
  • by Mills

I actually love Harpers Island but then my all time fave things are Agatha Christie and the OC and this is the perfect mix! Its very definatly strangley addicting though…

  • Posted on 11 October 2009
  • at 9:04pm
  • by zrudy

I agree with her. Every conceivable predictable twist and device, then it suddenly surprises and delights. Love it.

  • Posted on 11 October 2009
  • at 4:01pm
  • by ILoveJimmyMance!

I love Harper's Island, infact, I am OBSESSED. With only a week to go, and the eleventh episode tonight, I am excited to see the end, however will be itching for more when it's gone. This programme is one of my all time favourites. Plus, Jimmy is gorgeous, LOVE HIM!

  • Posted on 07 October 2009
  • at 3:14am
  • by Phil

I find myself on the same side as Alison. For all its faults, and it has quite a few, I find myself magnetically attracted to BBC3 on a Sunday night at 9.00pm for Harper's Island. I don't know what I was expecting and CBS Paramount would be limited as to its content because it was being made for prime time television. I find it has a strange 70's American Horror/Thriller feel about it. As I write this there are now only three episodes left and I hope they leave the ending open enough for at least a day trip back to the island.

  • Posted on 28 September 2009
  • at 12:29pm
  • by Oodles

I agree with Alison - yes it's total trash but for me it's the telly equivalent of a box of choccies - sinful but fun!

  • Posted on 22 September 2009
  • at 2:51pm
  • by tuttut

No, she's just got terrible taste :)

  • Posted on 21 September 2009
  • at 9:47am
  • by MazY

@tuttut:

Shame on you. Don't you know that to be a good TV critic you have to detest what the majority love and love what the majority detest? That way, you get to appear as though you have greater insight than most others. Alison just seems to be one of those who likes to fly against popular opinion for the sake of it. Presumably because she feels it makes her stand out from the crowd?

  • Posted on 17 September 2009
  • at 1:37pm
  • by tuttut

Harper's Island is anything but brilliant. I really do worry about your lack of taste, I think RT should get a new TV editor

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