DVD Review: Midsomer Murders: Village Case Files

  

Celebrated for its inventive crimes, charming scenery, and subtle humor,  Midsomer Murders: Village Case Files returns to DVD in a value-priced collection on April 15, 2014 ($79.99, 26 hours, AcornOnline.com) from Acorn, an RLJ Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ: RLJE) brand. This 8-disc collection includes sixteen feature-length, stand-alone mysteries (Series 8-9, 2004-2006) in broadcast order from the beloved, best-selling U.K. series that counts Johnny Depp and the Queen among its legion of fans. The cozy villages of Midsomer County reveal their most sinister secrets in these contemporary mysteries, available in this distinctively packaged collection. Midsomer Murders premiered in the U.K. in 1997 and one hundred feature-length episodes have aired with new episodes still in production. In the U.S., the series has been seen on A&E, The Biography Channel and public television. Acorn is simultaneously releasing Midsomer Murders, Series 8 and Series 9 ($59.99 each) in individual season sets ($59.99 each).  

The English village mystery gets a contemporary spin in this hit British television series that has earned a worldwide following. Bucolic settings harbor macabre crimes and eccentric characters that are no match for nice-guy detective Tom Barnaby (John Nettles, Bergerac) and his assistants Sergeant Dan Scott (John Hopkins, Love in a Cold Climate) and Detective Constable Ben Jones (Jason Hughes, This Life). “

Guest stars of Series 8-9 include: Jane Wymark (Poldark 2), Laura Howard (So Haunt Me), Diana Quick (The Phantom of the Opera, Brideshead Revisited), Elizabeth Spriggs (Doctor Who), Simon Callow (Amadeus), Harriet Walter (Atonement), Annette Crosbie (The Six Wives of Henry VIII), George Baker (The Ruth Rendell Mysteries), Siân Phillips (Dune), Peter Capaldi (The Thick of It; In the Loop) and Julia McKenzie (Marple, Notes on a Scandal).

THE MYSTERIES: Things that Go Bump in the Night; Dead in the Water; Orchis Fatalis; Bantling Boy; Second Sight; Hidden Depths; Sauce for the Goose; Midsomer Rhapsody; The House in the Woods; Dead Letters; Vixen’s Run; Down Among the Dead Men; Four Funerals and a Wedding; Country Matters; Death in Chorus; Last Year’s Model 

BONUS:  Fascinating facts, The Killings at Badger’s Drift connection (4 min.), production notes, and text interviews with John Nettles and Jason Hughes

Street: April 15, 2014                                    SRP: $79.99                           UPC: 0-54961-2144-9-5

DVD 8-Disc Collector’s Edition: 16 mysteries on 8 discs; Approx. 26 ¼ hours, plus bonus; SDH subtitles

My Thoughts


 If you are a fan of "Law & Order", you're going to love its British rural counterpart, "Midsomer Murders". In the county of Midsomer, things aren't always what they seem, and there is murder lurking behind many of the well trimmed hedges. The series, which was inspired by the novels by Caroline Graham, offers a selection of murder mysteries filled with intrigue and drama. I received the Midsomer Murder: Village Case Files to review, and each episode stands on its own and offers a unique and suspenseful storyline.

Discs 1-4
Vol. 1

 Things That Go Bump in the Night
A group of spiritualists may have woken up something stronger than they can handle. When a series of grisly murders are committed, the team must come in and find the living murderer lurking amongst the spirits.

Dead in the Water
Barnaby and Scott are looking forward to the annual Midsomer Regatta, but fun and games end quickly when a body is found in the water.

Orchis Fatalis
Orchids are worth killing for in this episode. When a botanist turns up dead, Barnaby and Scott have to figure out who would kill over a rare specimen of orchid. 

Bantling Boy
When the wealthy owner of Bantling Hall passes away, he leaves his champion thoroughbred to four Midsomer villagers. No one know why but not everyone is happy about the situation and foul play could be involved.

Discs 5-8
Vol. 2

Second Sight
In Midsomer Mere, a murder is committed and there are those who claim to have physic powers, but can the team read the mind of the real killer before another body shows up?

Hidden Depths
Barnaby and Scott are stumped when a local is killed by a combination of catapult, croquet, and Chateau Lafite.

Sauce for the Goose
A tourist dies under strange circumstances in a Relish factory which leads the team to discover there is an food war going on in the village--a battle that some people think is worth killing for.

Midsomer Rhapsody
New crimes lead Barnaby to look into a cold case about a murdered composure, but bringing up the old crime leads to a musical revival that could end in murder.

Discs 9-12
Vol. 3

The House in the Woods

Winyard house has always been thought to be haunted, but our detectives never put any stock into legends...until a young couple is murdered is a gruesome fashion.

Dead Letters
Oak Apple Week is supposed to be a festive time. But the mother of a former festival queen drowning herself puts a damper on the celebration. As Barnaby looks closer at the case, he starts to wonder if it's really a suicide.

Vixen’s Run
 Freddy Butlerh has a fortune and three former wives. When he dies under suspicious circumstance and a vast fortune is at stake, it seems one of the women might be the culprit.

Down Among the Dead Men
Martin Barrett  was a simple accountant shot down in old-west style. Barnaby and Jones suspect there is more going on than that it seems and follow a trail of blackmail and deceit.

Discs 13-16
Vol. 4

Four Funerals and a Wedding
Skimmington Fayre starts a battle of the sexes in Broughton. Normally it's all fun and games, but this year the bodies start to pile up.

Country Matters
Old-fashioned Elverton is against having a new supermarket built in there town, but is someone upset enough to murder one of the builders?

Death in Chorus
A small town prepares for a chorus competitions,  but the notes go sour when their tenor is murdered.

Last Year’s Model
 Annie Woodrow was arrested for the murder of her best friend, but Barnaby begins to second guess himself and looks deeper into the case.

This is such a great box set with so many fun episodes. I especially love the ones that include a look into the paranormal, even if it does turn out to be fake in most cases.  In addition to the two full seasons of episodes, the DVD set also includes interviews as well as fascinating facts and productions notes. If you want to get the advantage of a full set of amazing  stories that will leave you on the edge of your seat, than this is the box set for you. You can order Midsomer Murders: Village Case Files for the everyday low price of $79.99 at Acorn Media. If you're quick, you might even be able to catch a great sale. Right now the set is available for $49.99.


***Please note that I received no form of monetary compensation for this post. I did receive a sample of the product to try in order to write a fair and honest review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own and were not influenced in any way. ***