Overall very intriguing story that keeps you guessing. The acting (particularly by the two leads) is not the greatest, but easily overlooked by the work of a great supporting cast. And while it can get a little too close to "hokey" at times, the investigation draws you in right up to the end.
20 Reviews
Surprisingly good
amatorium7 May 2019
The Devil's Throat
Tweekums18 August 2021
As this Bulgarian series opens a body is found in a remote lake near the town of Smolyan; it quickly becomes apparent that this will be an unusual case... the man's eyes had been replaced by those from a sheep! Soon afterwards a second body is found; this one has been differently disfigured. Policeman Filip Chanov leads the case with his team. When it emerges that the two victims had been involved in helping refugees enter the country illegally they are joined by Mia Yazova, an officer in the security services who is concerned that there might be a terrorist element to the case. The pressure is on them; Filip's father, the local prosecutor with political ambitions, wants to use the case to help him become mayor and naturally everybody is worried there may be further murders.
I really enjoyed this series, the first Bulgarian series I've watched. The central mystery is intriguing; as the series progresses various suspects and motives emerge. We also learn more about the various characters as secrets are revealed. The setting is great with some really amazing scenery; if it weren't for the murders one might think this was made by the Smolyan tourist board, I'm sure it will inspire some people who had never heard of the place to pay a visit. The characters are a lot of fun; I particularly liked cops Pope, who is hilariously non-PC, and Donka, who is almost ready to give birth. The cast does a fine job bringing the characters to life. Of course no series is perfect; this would have been better without Mia's problems with her daughter who gets involved with a somewhat suspicious young local man. Overall though I'd certainly recommend this to fans of murder mysteries looking for something from somewhere new.
These comments are based on watching the series in Bulgarian with English subtitles.
I really enjoyed this series, the first Bulgarian series I've watched. The central mystery is intriguing; as the series progresses various suspects and motives emerge. We also learn more about the various characters as secrets are revealed. The setting is great with some really amazing scenery; if it weren't for the murders one might think this was made by the Smolyan tourist board, I'm sure it will inspire some people who had never heard of the place to pay a visit. The characters are a lot of fun; I particularly liked cops Pope, who is hilariously non-PC, and Donka, who is almost ready to give birth. The cast does a fine job bringing the characters to life. Of course no series is perfect; this would have been better without Mia's problems with her daughter who gets involved with a somewhat suspicious young local man. Overall though I'd certainly recommend this to fans of murder mysteries looking for something from somewhere new.
These comments are based on watching the series in Bulgarian with English subtitles.
Keep the bratty kids out it. It's so cliche
jmart-4304421 June 2021
I would have given it a higher rating but I'm so sick and tired of spoiled brat teenagers who hate their hardworking police parents. Why does that have to be a feature of so many crime series? It doesn't add anything to a series. Please just stop it.
Exciting crime series from Bulgaria!
ntemelkov-127 May 2019
Masterpiece! Very good movie !
diulgerova050624 June 2019
Strange, beautiful and intriguing
cookieknits11 May 2021
If this is what Bulgarian TV is like send us more. This police thriller starts with a body in a lake where it couldn't possibly be and goes on from there.
There are all there character types you'd expect in a former Soviet block police state government trying to deal with 21st Century problems, migration, internet, teenagers demanding freedom, and David Lynch type plot twists and oddball characters thrown in to keep you wanting more.
12 full episodes, and a soundtrack I would sell my mother to get a hold of.
There are all there character types you'd expect in a former Soviet block police state government trying to deal with 21st Century problems, migration, internet, teenagers demanding freedom, and David Lynch type plot twists and oddball characters thrown in to keep you wanting more.
12 full episodes, and a soundtrack I would sell my mother to get a hold of.
Ten stars
juliesharp-3629927 June 2021
I watched this yesterday afternoon starting at 4pm (Australia time) and i watched my last episode at 2am next morning.. It was intriguing, loved the story line had you going in all directions who killed this person.. I was intrigue with the story and i was not disappointed at the end either.. Great t.v series i have recommended it to my hubby to watch? The soundtrack was amazing as well, the title song Scaraborough Fair when listening to it i thought to myself i have heard this song but where then it dorned on me but i love there version it was haunting suited the opening scenes of show.. Great job here, loved it all ..
Bulgaria does Scandi style police series with great panache
charlesfcope22 August 2021
This was a very entertaining watch. I did it over three nights so that shows you how it held my attention. I have friends in Bulgaria, and I have visted them several times over the last few years. The part of Bulgaria where the series is filmed is not all that typical, being a relatively rich tourist area. However, the series delivers some good plot twists and more or less believable characters. I could see how the series would end but there were enough twists to keep you guessing. It was obviously trying to capitalize on the success of Scandi crime series, but I would say that the whole thing was less brooding and more melodramatic. What you'd expect from a country like Bulgaria, where it's not hard to meet older people in the villages who wish they could return to Communist days, and which is run by Boyko Borisov, a leftover from the Communist era and who runs his own security company (if you know what I mean - look him up).
CRIME THRILLER, SOAP OPERA OR MELODRAMA ??
alanl06-662-7702011 August 2021
ALL of the above . I can understand why one reviewer gave up after episode 5 as I almost did the same but I'm glad that I perservered to the end . Lots of twists and turns and an intriguing plot are somewhat let down by the outrageous overacting of the male lead but somewhat rescued by the female lead and some fine character acting by her supporting cast . The Prosectutor deserves a mention too for a menacing performance as the Patriarch ( would make a good Bond villains) . My rating of 6 is perhaps a little low as it is very close to a 7 but it doesn't ascend to the dizzy heights given by some reviewers , in my humble opinion. Definitely worth the watch if you can last past the first 5 episodes .
Intriguing and grabbing your attention, loved it!!!
venera_dimitrova19 September 2021
Very pleasantly surprised to find this intriguing Bulgarian crime TV series on All4. Keeps you wanting to watch all the episodes in one night, the scenery is stunningly beautiful (we went skiing twice in the region over the last few years, but haven't seen the place in the summer). And the soundtrack Scarborough fair (LP) is amazing. Took me a while to find out who's singing, but got it in the end. Just read that they are filming season 2 at the moment, can't wait!
Enticing, Despite the Weaknesses
Xine9g918 September 2021
An interesting, sometimes gripping series in which a series of gory murders reference core issues in historical and contemporary Muslim - Christian, Soviet & post-Soviet eras. Two cops from different positions and each with their own family problems must find a way to work together, supported by a local cop team, to unravel the reasons for the killings and reveal the killer. Mia's family issue is a stereotypical teenage daughter stereotypically alienated from her. The daughter is important to the plot, but the whole unforgiving daughter theme could have been significantly edited down. The emotional turmoils of Filip & Mia are rather overdone, thanks to both script and their overacting. And Filip, designed as the moody, sexy hero sometimes verges on the creepy or, at least, a real turnoff. But the supporting cast, particularly the three local cops, are interesting, characterful without falling into caricature, and well performed. The final outcome is obvious in the second-last episode, leaving the final episode to make it all even more predictable.
Up until that point, however, it's a compelling, enjoyable series. And it's worth a watch despite the weaknesses. Revelatory, but not intrusive, history, stunning scenery, glimpses of contemporary life and politics in rural Bulgaria and a beautifully constructed soundtrack that fits perfectly.
Up until that point, however, it's a compelling, enjoyable series. And it's worth a watch despite the weaknesses. Revelatory, but not intrusive, history, stunning scenery, glimpses of contemporary life and politics in rural Bulgaria and a beautifully constructed soundtrack that fits perfectly.
Surprisingly good
canineparvovirus21 April 2024
I did not pay much atrention to this when it came out. As a bulgarian myself, I know that most bulgarian productions are... mediocre at best. But not this. I was amazed. Now, is it perfect? Of course not! Some of the suspects resist answering very simple questions for no other reason than to add to the mistery of the show, but it has the effect of driving the viewer mad. Also, the daughter.... unnecessary bratty. Also did they borrow inspiration from True detective here? Yes, heavily. However... it is its own thing with decent acting, very good mystery and just the perfect amount of a complicated, interesting story. It gripped me from the beginning and never let go. The scenery... well, as someone who has actually been to most of the locations in real life... yes, it really is that beautiful. The Rhodopi mountain was the uncredited character here and it gave soul, beauty and mystery to the story. To hear the same legends about the cave i have heard from a guide, in a tv series was actually pleasant. The show grabbed my attention, managed to make me feel for the characters, be invested in the story and actually managed to surprise me! If that doesn't qualify it as great, I dont know what does.
Tilt
lachezarmatneshliev14 January 2023
The project by Evtim Miloshev will win you over as it turns the series into a medicine for the walking wounded from romance, from life. Sophisticated and intimate in equal measure. Each episode creates an exceptional quality script that is sent and feels expendable. They have collectible acting pieces just for art connoisseurs..!? (D)evil's Throat: Djavolskoto Garlo series will curb you from the trauma of whatever pain you have technique from the director. Enjoy London from your own stylish apartment. Close the door, forget the noise of the city and let this peaceful series become your home. The result takes the audience on an odyssey that mixes fascinating twists with repulsive twists - often funny, always watchable as could be. There is so much good here in the dialogue, performances and observation that the film succeeds at many points even as it pursues its doomed grandiose design. An elite group of theatergoers is the pleasant surprise of Evtim Miloshev. Even when you question the central premise, the quality makes you want to accept it. Screenplay is mystical in the same way that The Crimson Rivers with Vincent Cassel all the dramatic believability and musical sequence gives you the feeling of security..!?
Interesting elements but transparently manipulative
paul2001sw-117 October 2021
Bulgarian crime drama 'The Devil's Throat' ticks many of the expected boxes: a lengthy twelve episodes a dramatic setting, a female savant-detective, a serial killer on the loose, a tricksy plot linking politics and crime, and a generous sountrack comprising not-particularly congruous western pop music. My guess is that the writers have definitely seen 'The Killing', among other precedents. The plot takes good advantage of the setting, a one-horse town where the male protagonist, the local detective, is the son of the local prosecutor and mayor-elect: although there are many red herrings on the way, its final resolution makes a fair degree of sense. Ultimately, what separates it from the best of the genre is that you can never quite escape the sense that everything is set up and manipulated. These days, long running series such as these are very much in vogue; but perhaps there is a taughter tale in here it would have been better to have told.
Painful
eshmana5 September 2022
This tested me to the limit of what I can bear to watch as it slowly descended into trash. The acting is hopeless, the characters unbelievable, the script truly embarrassing, direction is directionless, and the plot nowhere near as intriguing as it thinks it is.
Then there's the the most inappropriate soundtrack of all time -a poor version on 'Scarborough Fair' (pronounced, annoyingly, 'Scar-bo-roh'). Why are English language songs in a Bulgarian series?
The scenery is the only good bit about this and there isn't enough of it.
I wanted it to be so much better, but it isn't.
I'm struggling to hit 600 characters for this and don't know why there's a minimum number of characters now; not everyone wants to read essays for reviews.
Then there's the the most inappropriate soundtrack of all time -a poor version on 'Scarborough Fair' (pronounced, annoyingly, 'Scar-bo-roh'). Why are English language songs in a Bulgarian series?
The scenery is the only good bit about this and there isn't enough of it.
I wanted it to be so much better, but it isn't.
I'm struggling to hit 600 characters for this and don't know why there's a minimum number of characters now; not everyone wants to read essays for reviews.
Not Quite Good Enough
wheatley-2023012 September 2021
We stuck with this for 5 episodes given the high opinions of IMDb users but eventually gave up on it. There may be a good story in here, but there are an awful lot of distractions too. The hints at a supernatural angle and intercuts of unnecessary blood and gore are obvious examples. But also plot strands such as the disaffected teenage daughter seem unlikely to add much.
not worthy
marioantonov13 November 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Well I tried, I really tried. I managed to watch episode 1 and 2 and then just couldn't do it anymore.
Lets put the positives, yes there are a few: -scenery. The story takes place in the beautiful Rhodope mountains and the views are really breath taking. This could have been an above average documentary if they sticked to the nature scenes.
And that should be all.
Now the negatives: -totally unconvincing and unbelievable. They tried and overdo it and made a mess of it.
-the act was sorry to say the least for the most parts ( but this is common for pretty much all Bulgarian series and films ) -the storyline was trying to be modern and traditional but however did not look genuine and involving.
The moments that made be stop watching it: there were two moments that just could not take it anymore.
First when the pregnant policewoman asked a mother and son if they had been romantically involved. This happens just after delivering the information that the husband and father had died.
I hold my breath but continued the second scene was when the two main actors were analysing each other.
There had to be a limit to what I can take and just that was it.
I was not able to force myself to continue it.
I wanted this Bulgarian series to hook me but did not work.
Lets put the positives, yes there are a few: -scenery. The story takes place in the beautiful Rhodope mountains and the views are really breath taking. This could have been an above average documentary if they sticked to the nature scenes.
- the main female actress had some good moments.
And that should be all.
Now the negatives: -totally unconvincing and unbelievable. They tried and overdo it and made a mess of it.
-the act was sorry to say the least for the most parts ( but this is common for pretty much all Bulgarian series and films ) -the storyline was trying to be modern and traditional but however did not look genuine and involving.
The moments that made be stop watching it: there were two moments that just could not take it anymore.
First when the pregnant policewoman asked a mother and son if they had been romantically involved. This happens just after delivering the information that the husband and father had died.
I hold my breath but continued the second scene was when the two main actors were analysing each other.
There had to be a limit to what I can take and just that was it.
I was not able to force myself to continue it.
I wanted this Bulgarian series to hook me but did not work.
Silly and contrived like a 70's Cop show
Pizzaowner17 October 2021
This has all the believe-ability of a Road Runner cartoon.
Within the first 10 minutes you are forced to accept situations and inabilities of the police that are from another generation of police dramas.
%0 years ago perhaps some of the silly7 antics of characters might pass to an otherwise naive and unaware viewing audience.
Today, suck silly stuff is just there to make poor writing seem like a good idea.
The acting is good and the sets are great...background scenery is superb and if this were a travel show I'd applaud it but it isn't...it a police drama and it has all the sophistication of a 70's era American cop-chase movie.
Didn't make it for me.
Within the first 10 minutes you are forced to accept situations and inabilities of the police that are from another generation of police dramas.
%0 years ago perhaps some of the silly7 antics of characters might pass to an otherwise naive and unaware viewing audience.
Today, suck silly stuff is just there to make poor writing seem like a good idea.
The acting is good and the sets are great...background scenery is superb and if this were a travel show I'd applaud it but it isn't...it a police drama and it has all the sophistication of a 70's era American cop-chase movie.
Didn't make it for me.
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