barbara-364
I saw this TV-made film for the first time last night. I know "sociopath" and "psychopath" are labels and that everyone is an individual and no label, even attached to a mass-murderer such as Haigh could really explain his actions which can only be described as destructive and evil. Martin Clunes was clearly relishing the role and I have to say, I found him completely convincing in it. Whilst the adaptation does suggest the strict religious sect his parents adhered to was a strong influence in his development into a psychopathic murderer, I think this film interpretation of his character indicated he had a sense of entitlement to taking what he wanted in life and he had no boundaries, no conscience, saw no reason why he could not do what he wanted to do to get it all. He would appear to be one of those people who believes their own lies to the extent they can successfully convince many others. I think the reason he committed the murders was because he could and he seems to have committed them for personal gain. He had none of the normal moral and ethical boundaries in place to prevent him. He was unable to understand or foresee the consequences of his actions. Since the explanation he was influenced by his religious background came from Haigh himself, who was a practised and pathological liar, I leave it to the experts to determine whether such people as Haigh are the products of nature or nurture or a tragic combination of many contributing influences.
peterdaphne61
I have just seen a repeat of this TV film and was very impressed. I had the opportunity of doing some gardening work for the Sgt Inspector Heslin (Ret'd) before he died, when he lived in Torbay. As one of the detectives who interviews Haigh and discovered his gun, he showed me photographs which very much resembled the film set of Haigh's workhouse. I also specialized someone in the RAF when, as a medic, I saw just what Sulphuric acid can do. Now I am a prolific author and wish I had taken more notes about this case. Heslin and I enjoyed good conversation and he was very proud to have been one of the main detectives to interview Haigh.Peter Carroll
Nicholas Anderson
Martin Clunes plays a truly pig-full, chauvinistic (unfortunately slightly-hysterical but it shouldn't) performance as he plays the clever inventor who drops comical one-liners. The film makes one's ribs crack in sadness and pain as Haigh (Clunes), dressed to mimic Hitler (moustache, hair and all) seduces women in typical Clunes innuendo style, and then proceeds to kill and dip their bodies in acid.This film certainly is A is For Acid, as Haigh (Clunes) recites the dream he had when he was a child about 'His Vampire Story'. I do not believe I have ever seen so many 'straight' faces in my life throughout the whole film never mind the lyrics to the music from the start to 'The End', quoting from the Dad of Johnny George Haigh.This film is ultimately a rip-off from Alfred Hitchcock's 'Johnny Brown's Body' (1955-1962). It has been done in the most satirical way that ITV (shown on ITV3 (Britain) on 4th March) and IMDb viewers have seemed to overlook this in their reviews.
Sweenster
This TV movie was a superb historical drama about a true life murderer in England during and after the Second World War. Martin Clunes portrays the serial killer in a sincere but occasionally humourous way. The film shows how the killer gradually loses control and how he eventually is caught where he thought he couldn't based on an old law where a person could not be convicted of a murder if no body is found. I really found it enjoying and the acting of Clunes and his co-stars gave a true feeling of the times and the addition of a character being played by a person who actually met the real killer whilst she was child in London at the time make this film a very enjoyable treat
AD
