Crimes of Passion: No More Murders (2013 TV Movie) User Reviews

Murder Mystery Set in Edenic Surroundings

[l_rawjalaurence · 6/10 · 15 September 2014]

The most interesting aspect of Peter Schildt's production, involving a series of revenge killings, familial skeletons in the cupboard and an illicit love-affair involving an underage girl, is the way in which such bloody deeds take place in edenic surroundings. Puck (Tuva Novotny) is now married to Eje (Linus Wahlgren), and the two of them come to stay in Eje's village where he grew up, accompanied by a cat belonging to Puck's father. They are served delicious- looking sweetmeats cooked by Hulda (Lottie Ejebrant) and spend much of their time sitting on the veranda on a series of glorious summer days. Nothing, it seems, could be more perfect, except for the unexplained deaths ...

This kind of storytelling is very much reminiscent of British versions of Agatha Christie, where the apparently civilized veneer of the characters conceals much darker desires. Director Schildt emphasizes this through the use of close-ups - for example, on the face of alcoholic would-be tycoon Yngve (Mats Blomgren), as he tries his best to cover up his seamy past, or the young gardener Borje (Martin Eliasson) who tries his best to avoid Inspector Christer's (Ola Rapace's) gaze.

Occasional comic relief is provided through the presence of two weird sisters Livia (Ylva Ekblad) and Agneta (Julia Sporre), who try their best to conceal anything from Puck's relentless questioning, while doing the best to poke their noses into everyone else's business. We see several medium shots of them gossiping to one another as they witness what happens in front of them. The town of Skoga might be pleasant to live in, but like all small towns it betrays a multitude of secrets.

The resolution of the story is relatively straightforward; sharp- eyed viewers should be able to guess the identity of the murderer well before the end. Nonetheless NO MORE MURDERS makes for a pleasant ninety minutes' diversion.

Crimes of Passion – No More Murders

[Tweekums · 7/10 · 13 September 2014]

In the opening moments the body of a woman is found in a Stockholm flat and Christer is soon on the case; this is not the main mystery though… Puck and Eje, who are now married, decide to spend the last weeks of their holiday in Skoga; the town where Eji grew up. Inevitable things don't go as they planned and they find the body of a man who has been stabbed with a dagger on their lawn. Christer soon joins them and it looks as though the two cases may be linked; the dead man was actually the dead woman's sister although he'd been adopted by his father, who kept his background a secret. As the investigation progresses several suspects and motives emerge before the case is finally solved.

'Oh, what a tangled web we weave: When first we practise to deceive!'… There is certainly plenty of deception here as almost everybody is lying about something; illicit affairs, bankruptcy and the true parents of the victim. It all adds up to an enjoyable mystery where the viewer will have plenty of suspects to choose from… although I suspect cat lovers will spot the killer very early in to the proceedings! As with the previous two stories it is told in a fairly light way; in typical murder mystery style the guest characters are almost all just a little bit over the top without becoming pantomime villains. If you enjoy the Scandinavian Noir that has been on BBC4 lately you light find this a bit lightweight but if you like traditional mysteries with solid acting and pretty scenery you should like this.