A series of murders in Midsomer St Claire seem to be inspired by macabre images on a medieval fresco recently discovered in the church crypt.A series of murders in Midsomer St Claire seem to be inspired by macabre images on a medieval fresco recently discovered in the church crypt.A series of murders in Midsomer St Claire seem to be inspired by macabre images on a medieval fresco recently discovered in the church crypt.
Billy Postlethwaite
- Noah Evans
- (as William Postlethwaite)
Richard Banks
- River Authority Worker
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaAfter several very wet years (which presumably gave rise to ideas for part of the plot) when they came to film this episode it was in the middle of an exceptionally hot and dry spring. As a result, characters stand debating when the river will burst its banks despite it being practically empty. When filming wet scenes, the location had to be repeatedly sprayed with water as the hot sun kept drying it out.
- GoofsWhen DCI Barnaby comes to Professor Philip Hamilton's home after he is murdered, it appears to be raining hard. But the sun is shining brightly, revealing that the "rain" is contrived by crew members. This happens again in two subsequent scenes.
- Quotes
Reverend Martha Hillcott: [about the fresco] Isn't it beautiful! All that misery and suffering. Almost makes me tingle.
Featured review
Medieval frescoeing with 'Midsomer Murders'
When in its prime (a vast majority of Seasons 1-9), 'Midsomer Murders' was a great show and one that is watched and re-watched frequently. Seasons 10-13 became more uneven, with three of the show's worst episodes coming from Seasons 11 and 13, but there were a few solid episodes and "Blood Wedding" and especially "Master Class" were gems.
After John Nettles retired and Neil Dudgeon and the new character of John Barnaby took over, 'Midsomer Murders' just hasn't been the same on the most part. Season 14 was a disappointment outside of "The Oblong Murders" and "A Sacred Trust", with "Echoes of the Dead" and "The Night of the Stag" being show low-points. Season 15 was inconsistent, being a case of starting promisingly and then took a three-episodes-in-a-row strange turn with "Written in the Stars" before finishing on a good note.
"The Christmas Haunting" was a good start to Season 16, unfortunately "Let Us Prey" continues Season 16 on a disappointing note. There are certainly worse episodes, but "Let Us Prey" is a long way from one of the best 'Midsomer Murders' episodes.
Production values cannot be faulted as usual. It's mostly beautifully and atmospherically shot with suitably picturesque scenery. The music fits perfectly, with some lush jauntiness and sometimes an ominous quality, and the haunting theme tune is one of the most memorable and instantly recognisable of the genre.
Neil Dudgeon is much more comfortable than with the previous two seasons, and Gwilym Lee as Barnaby's new partner Nelson once again fills big shoes more than competently. They work well and cohesively together, that it was good to be spared Jones being written like a dumbed down idiot and Barnaby's disdainful and overly-smug attitude towards him. The supporting cast are all strong (especially Rebecca Front and gleefully enjoyable Michael Jayston), adorable and comedically gifted Sykes continues to steal scenes and it was great that Sarah is written with more development and charm and that her chemistry with Barnaby is here more loving, warmer and playful.
However, the story has its dull and credibility straining stretches, even in the admittedly quite inventive murders themselves, with the pacing in need of a tightening up and less padding. The ending is outlandish and convoluted with a hard to swallow motive.
The script takes too much of a heavy and overly serious tone, with the gently humorous touch generally missing, and it was difficult to overlook the sloppy procedural work (such as confidentiality breaching and how the whole denouement was conducted). Kate is still very bland outside of her and Nelson's subplot and shows herself to be pretty incompetent when examining the first murder victim.
On the whole, okay episode but a long way from great. 6/10 Bethany Cox
After John Nettles retired and Neil Dudgeon and the new character of John Barnaby took over, 'Midsomer Murders' just hasn't been the same on the most part. Season 14 was a disappointment outside of "The Oblong Murders" and "A Sacred Trust", with "Echoes of the Dead" and "The Night of the Stag" being show low-points. Season 15 was inconsistent, being a case of starting promisingly and then took a three-episodes-in-a-row strange turn with "Written in the Stars" before finishing on a good note.
"The Christmas Haunting" was a good start to Season 16, unfortunately "Let Us Prey" continues Season 16 on a disappointing note. There are certainly worse episodes, but "Let Us Prey" is a long way from one of the best 'Midsomer Murders' episodes.
Production values cannot be faulted as usual. It's mostly beautifully and atmospherically shot with suitably picturesque scenery. The music fits perfectly, with some lush jauntiness and sometimes an ominous quality, and the haunting theme tune is one of the most memorable and instantly recognisable of the genre.
Neil Dudgeon is much more comfortable than with the previous two seasons, and Gwilym Lee as Barnaby's new partner Nelson once again fills big shoes more than competently. They work well and cohesively together, that it was good to be spared Jones being written like a dumbed down idiot and Barnaby's disdainful and overly-smug attitude towards him. The supporting cast are all strong (especially Rebecca Front and gleefully enjoyable Michael Jayston), adorable and comedically gifted Sykes continues to steal scenes and it was great that Sarah is written with more development and charm and that her chemistry with Barnaby is here more loving, warmer and playful.
However, the story has its dull and credibility straining stretches, even in the admittedly quite inventive murders themselves, with the pacing in need of a tightening up and less padding. The ending is outlandish and convoluted with a hard to swallow motive.
The script takes too much of a heavy and overly serious tone, with the gently humorous touch generally missing, and it was difficult to overlook the sloppy procedural work (such as confidentiality breaching and how the whole denouement was conducted). Kate is still very bland outside of her and Nelson's subplot and shows herself to be pretty incompetent when examining the first murder victim.
On the whole, okay episode but a long way from great. 6/10 Bethany Cox
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- TheLittleSongbird
- Mar 14, 2017
Details
- Runtime1 hour 29 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 16:9 HD
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