Colors of Evil: Red

Even I, a seasoned viewer, was taken aback by the level of brutality depicted. But hey, life isn't a fairy tale or a Marvel comic, right? If you hit someone with an axe or a blunt object, it's not going to be pretty. A sensitive soul might have serious issues with this film, but the reality is, as long as there are people who take pleasure in hurting others, we should get used to such scenes. The laws are pretty lenient towards such scum. I thoroughly enjoyed this gritty dive into Trójmiasto, although it left a little to be desired to earn those five stars. (06/05/2024)

Poland has officially taken over from Scandinavia as the king of European crime dramas. Netflix's latest addition is another dark, atmospheric murder mystery set against the unique backdrop of Polish locales. The Tri-City setting feels fresh, and even though the architecture isn't the main focus, the Baltic Sea's influence permeates the film. You get a gripping murder, an atmosphere thick with sea salt, and strong performances led by the always excellent Jakub Gierszał. Just when you think you’ve reached the end of the investigation, there’s a twist that reaffirms the quality of the plot. A truly well-crafted piece of work. (06/07/2024)

A bit of a disappointment for me, but that's due to the film's premise, which lured in a serial killer who cuts off women's lips, and I was expecting a gritty Hannibal-style murder mystery, and it really didn't. The murders are at most just talked about. I was expecting it gritty, unpleasant, raw and brutal and I found it very light even for the Poles. I didn't care for the final twist. I didn't enjoy it much, didn't like the style the film was going in and it has few attractive scenes. 55% (06/05/2024)

Gdańsk, Gdynia, Sopot, prosecutor to work! It’s interesting how the initial identification evolved into greater empathy, and how seemingly random cues led him to incriminating evidence. The choice of songs didn’t quite fit the scene, nor did the length of blindness to the actions of the colleague playing both sides. Leading the audience by the nose towards a gangster Kojak, who cracks jokes about women's backsides, was about as predictable as the following plot twist. If avid readers of detective fiction didn’t spot it long in advance, they should return to Danielle Steel! (07/25/2024)