Terrible acting, screenplay and direction.

Just what I expected

Good movie but grossly overrated

Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

I stumbled across this excellent movie on late-night Canadian television, and I was simply blown away. I'm so glad I was able to record it because I learned later it has only rarely been shown in Canada, has never been shown on TV or anywhere in America, is not on DVD or VHS, and not likely to be released in those formats either. I showed this film to a friend of mine who is involved in the movie industry and he was so impressed he contacted the producers to try to buy the rights to release it on the film festival circuit and then put it out on DVD and he gave up because they showed absolutely zero interest in it. I fear this is one superb movie destined to be seen by very few people, which is a shame. It is among the very best gay-themed films I have ever seen. Based upon a mystery novel, it has many unpredictable twists and turns, is beautifully and professionally photographed, and the acting is great. It leaves you on the edge of your seat.

Hitchcock is smiling down from... or up from... This BBC produced thriller is a worthy homage to the master. A little gem that is as complex and perverse as anything Chabrol or Truffaut accomplished in this genre. Director Shankland engenders superb work from all involved. The cast is first rate as is the atmospheric cinematography of Paul Sarossi, with special kudos going to composer Christopher Dedrick for a magnificent and seamlessly integrated score whose source material are the rapturous melodies of Der Rosenkavalier. As with Hichcock, be prepared to be shamelessly manipulated by the plot structure and its twists. But go along with the filmmakers. You will not be disappointed by this daring and intricate piece of work. The pacing of this 120-minute film cannot be faulted and the last 30 minutes are a spectacular emotional tour de force. You might even find an unexpected tear in your eye by the end of the final, beautifully understated, tracking shot. Search this one out. It's worth it.

I cannot recommend this movie highly enough. Both Lee Williams and Marc Warren are amazing in their respective roles. Williams is superb as the confused young man who enjoys the chase more than the end result, and Warren meets this fine job with one of his own; he is excellent as the angry and bitter lover who cannot get his heart free. The story is also top-rate, very depressing, but so true to life that it can't be faulted. I didn't like the casting choice of Isobel, I rather thought that she was played too old, but otherwise, this film was brilliant, definitely worth your time.

POSSIBLE PLOT SPOILERS? I very nearly didn't watch, this but in the end I'm very glad I did, I was enthralled from the beginning to the end. Tim Cornish who was surprisingly well acted by Lee Williams - who I'd last seen in a fairly awful Beatles film is a fairly shallow but gorgeous, (well Williams is a bit too pretty for my likes but anyway!) university student who becomes attracted to a male university professor called Ivo Steadman. This attraction though initially obsessive in time reveals itself to be shallow because it evaporates when Ivo admits he loves Tim because the sense of mystery is gone. This leads Tim into the arms of a woman called Isabel and to the decision that he must get out of his relationship with Ivo in any way he can even if that means killing him. The acting especially from Marc Warren who is sublime as Ivo is what really made this special and all in all this is a good adaptation of a wonderful Barbara Vine book.In fact i can't speak too highly of Warren the sarcasm and the melancholy but also the great hopeless affection for Tim the way he loves him despite all he has done are all transported perfectly from the book to this teleplay. i guess that was down to a really good bit of casting. All in all i can't say anything more than i thought it was very good well adapted - (yes I read the book - in 2 days i might add) - that's how good it was! and well acted.