NOT YOUR USUAL SUSPECTS

A group blog featuring an international array of killer mystery, suspense, and romantic suspense writers. With premises and story lines different from your run-of-the-mill whodunits, we tend to write outside the box. We blog several times a week on all topics relating to romantic suspense and mystery, our writing, and our readers. We welcome all comments and often have guest bloggers. All our authors can be contacted separately, too, using their own social media links.

We find our genre delightfully, dangerously, and deliciously exciting - join us here, if you do too!

NOTE: the blog is currently dormant but please enjoy the posts we're keeping online.


Julie Moffet . Cathy Perkins . Jean Harrington . Daryl Anderson . Nico Rosso . Maureen A Miller . Sandy Parks . Lisa Q Mathews . Sharon Calvin . Lynne Connolly . Janis Patterson . Vanessa Keir . Tonya Kappes . Julie Rowe . Joni M Fisher . Leslie Langtry

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

The Color of Nostaglia: Favorite Mystery Films

I was watching a little indie film last night. It's called Cold Weather. It sounded vaguely mystery-like as I was scrolling for something to watch before bed, something that would put me to sleep or that I wouldn't mind clicking off when the witching hour arrived:

A guy who moves back to Portland, Oregon becomes involved in the mystery of his ex-girlfriend's disappearance.

Ah. Perfect.

So I began watching and before long I was utterly engrossed. In fact, they had me from the opening shot of a rainy apartment court in Portland. Something about this quirky, off-beat little film really got to me.

Before long it was way past the witching hour and I was quietly laughing to myself -- trying not to disturb anyone else who was sleeping comfortably -- and the movie ended. Is the mystery solved? Unsolved? Does it matter?

I'm still not entirely sure what I saw or what Cold Weather was about. Is it about family? Siblings? The point of life? The influence of detective novels? The effect of prolonged rain on the fragile human mind?

I don't know, but I loved it so much that I went online to buy it today. Although I've never lived in Portland and my life bears no resemblance to the characters, something about this movie made me homesick and nostalgic.

So what's your favorite mystery or crime film?

10 comments:

Elise Warner said...

Anything by Alfred Hitchcock gives me chills and thrills. Amazing how we somtimes get hooked by a film we never heard of.

JB Lynn said...

North by Northwest
To Catch a Thief
Se7en
LA Confidential
Lone Star
Gone Baby, Gone

all immediately came to mind.

Josh Lanyon said...

Elise, I was watching Strangers on a Train the other night. It's really an amazing little movie.

Josh Lanyon said...

JB, I like every one of those with the exception of Se7en. I hated that movie. :-P

Toni Anderson said...

Marnie by Hitchcock.
And Gone Baby, Gone, definitely hooked me from the opening.
I just rewatched se7en too. It's a well put together movie, very moody and atmospheric, and talk about rain :)

Toni Anderson said...

LOL, cross posted. Se7en isn't one of my fav movies but I think as a thriller it works very well. I've never heard of Cold Weather. I'll have to look for it.

Josh Lanyon said...

I love Gone Baby Gone, that scene when the female protag jumps into the water? WOW. That's such a great moment. But the whole film is gripping although I detest the choice the male protag makes.

Hey, there would be a great debate question! :-D

Maureen A. Miller said...

That's a tough one. There are so many. Of course, now I have to investigate COLD WEATHER. :) I liked THE USUAL SUSPECTS. But I also like ALONG CAME A SPIDER.

You make a very good point about the end of the movie. It's more about the ride.

Clare London said...

The whole star to me in a mystery is the atmosphere, even more than the plot :). I think that's why many smaller budget or unusual films stay in my memory. I'll look up this movie.

I love Hitchcock - Marnie was one of my favourites! Usual Suspects, Insomnia, LA Confidential, Third Man, Manchurian Candidate, Marathon Man, Ipcress File, No Way Out, A Kiss Before Dying, Vantage Point... these are some of the ones I re-watch.

I'd better stop before I spend all day on my DVd shelf... :)

Unknown said...

I haven't heard of Cold Weather but I'll have to check it out.

I love the dark, brooding atmosphere in the Hitchcock films. Maureen's reminded me of Along Came a Spider, too. I must have watched that film a dozen times and still love it.

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