Customer Reviews

Oktober [VHS]

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a sci-fi movie which I usually do not like. An interesting premise, a new unapproved drug tested on an innocent bystander by a huge drug corporation. I liked it but thought that the editing was not very smooth, obviously a foreign production. I had to watch it about three times before I caught all the jumps, which had at first viewing seemed to not make sense. I bought it to see Stephen Tompkinson's performance which was good in some places and seemed melodramatic in other places. Of course, the story of traveling back and forth between the living and the dead made it unbelievable. The director was also the writer and this was his first effort at directing which probably accounts for some of this.

Fans of the novel won't be disappointed. Stephen Tompkinson absolutely acts his socks off and makes for a compelling sympathetic lead. The changes made to the novel's story are quite broad and some work better than others, but in essence it's the same story and many of the key scenes remain, including the supernatural elements that made the novel so memorable. The more complicated strands and the globe-trotting nature of the book have been dropped for a more streamlined story with a neater resolution that works very well onscreen. The direction is mostly slick; the scenes shot in a snowy Switzerland in particular give the serial a filmic quality, and the actions scenes carry a lot of pace and punch for a nineties television drama. However, like many programmes from the same era, the quality of the picture and lack of widescreen does date it, but it's still a great British drama and an sf highlight of the 90s.

This movie is enjoyable with just enough surprise to keep you watching. Stephen Tompkinson is excellent. He has to be naive enough to make the plot work and yet be able to outsmart the enemy. Good performance.

Unfortunately this is a 2 hour condensed version of the 4 hours series - he whole series could have been put on a CD.

Originally aired on some PBS stations around the country. A psychological/mystical thriller. The lead character gains a link with comatose test subjects after intentionally being given the not yet realsed drug.
The drug was intended to bring patients out of a coma. Failing to do that other therapeuic uses are planned.
The drug has unexpected effects, of which the drug company was warned and ignored after considered to far-fetched.

Just like other PBS/BBC series have become films - expect it to happen with this.