Ctrl Alt Esc

Well, that was dark. Very dark.

An escape room premised on a serial killer is of course going to be dark. But then it moves to another level completely....as devoted IN9 fans should expect. There are the usual misdirections, the typical asides, and the clever red herrings. Oh, and Pemberton has an entire family--wife and children--whom he loves and cherishes! I can't think of many other such eps....

Even so, this one was, well, let's call it special. It begins with the usual escape room dramatics, then gives hints of something else, and then, ....

I liked it. But I'm not sure I will be recommending it to my escape-room-fanatic sister.

I have seen a lot of Escape Room type movies. So I did wonder where the Inside No 9 team will go with the concept.

With the advanced warnings about the story. It looked this would be dark and disturbing with no major twists.

Jason (Steve Pemberton) and Lynne (Katherine Kelly) along with their daughters Millie and Amy visit escape room number 9, known as The Killer's Lair

It is managed by genial Doug (Reece Shearsmith) who provides them with a vivid description of killer on the loose Dr Death. He also gives them certain clues when required.

Jason is an escape room enthusiast. The others are there reluctantly. Pretty soon Jason finds himself restrained, something is wrong in the marriage and Dr Death is on the prowl.

Very eerie and atmospheric. It increasingly becomes disturbing and then they Introduce the reveal.

Pemberton and Shearsmith certainly did pull off the twist. This is the sort of imagination some horror movie directors need.

Jason and Lynne take their daughter's Millie and Amy to an escape room for some family bonding. Jason is an enthusiast, his family humour him. Time is very short, the family must unite to solve the puzzle.

Boy oh boy this got dark very quickly, surely one of the darker episodes, and that's saying something.

So good, so original, so different, this final series continues to thrill and surprise.

You know there's going to be a twist, only you don't know when or what, when it comes it's a surprise, definitely not what I was expecting, but it really worked.

Very well acted, great to see Katherine Kelly here, someone I make a point of looking out for.

I know I shouldn't be, but I can't help but look ahead and wonder what they've got in store for the finale, will it look back at this show, or another, or will it nod to one their favourites, Dr Who possibly?

I am so excited about the next two episodes.

8/10.

Gah... almost. I really liked this episode up to the reveal of what was actually happening. I didn't hate it after that, but I was much less interested in it from that point on.

A family, Jason (Steve Pemberton), his wife Lynne (Katherine Kelly) and their daughters Millie (Kalli Tant) and Amy (Maddie Evans) are doing an escape room together, as one final family outing before the aloof Millie goes to University. Having been introduced to the setting by the enthusiastic Doug (Reece Shearsmith) they begin "The serial killers lair" but are told that should anyone come into the room, it will be the killer returning and they should hide.

Really loved the characters in this one. Katherine Kelly is always great, and she is again here, and the two girls were good too. There were lots of funny lines between them, though not without an immediate sense that something is off in the dynamic. It felt a little like a callback's episode, with Doug's struggling actor not a million miles away from Olly Plimsoles. The escape room environment gave them a chance to show some clever writing ideas, like they did with the earlier episode "The Riddle of Sphinx" and I imagine that Steve Pemberton in particular enjoyed coming up with that. I want to keep this review spoiler free, so I won't be specific about the twist, but it also reminded me of another piece of work, a certain play and film written by another "League of Gentlemen" alumnus Jeremy Dyson.

I have written in other reviews that the horror episodes are my favourite, so its when they deviate away from there that the show shook me loose a little bit. Only a bit though, I won't say that it ruined it for me and there were still more clever elements in the reveals of the ending that I did enjoy.

Can't believe that there's only two more to go.

Inside No. 9 - S9E4 - Ctrl Alt Esc

An Escape Room enthusiast brings his family to a room inspired by a serial killer. They have an hour to solve the room and escape, before the killer comes back and finds them. Of course, it's just a game... or is it?!

"Ctrl Alt Esc" combines elements of horror, thriller, and family drama into a very dark, atmospheric episode that leads you to make the wrong assumptions and then waits around the corner with a completely unexpected twist. One of the most skillfully written and effective episodes of the entire series. Steve Pemberton gave a great performance.

9/10.