Detetive Forst

I read the books a while back and remember them being pompously written, with repetitive descriptions, and the characters' main personality traits being what they wore, the kind of chewing gum they liked and how much they swore. The series has similar 'depth' and it's over reliant on you having to fill in the gaps in the plot.

The choice of the main actor was also quite predictable, although personally I imagined Forst differently, but thats only a personal opinion.

You get to see the beauty of the Polish mountains though, and if you're not too fussed about things making sense then give it a go.

Web series review: Detective Forst streaming on Netflix

This Polish Web Series based on a novel showcases the life of a brilliant but troubled detective Wiktor Forst, whose maverick ways get him kicked out of his job . Will he still be able to work outside the system without any rules and get to the bottom of grizzly murders that r taking place and catch the killer who is committing his crimes with impunity!!

Starts off decently as the first three episodes showcase the murders being carried out with a message. These episodes r the best of the six part series where they showcase Forst's inner demons and the murders.

I don't know what happened next .. guess the writers got lazy and finally in the last episode they literally bailed out leaving the passengers ( viewers) mid air twiddling their thumbs to figure out their own version of the ending 😄!!

Some positives - The cinematography is brilliant, the snow clad mountainous landscape in Zakopane,Poland adding to the captivating & visually stimulating ambience that is truly out of the world. Kudos to the cinematographer!!

However, was it necessary to show the altitude of all places showcased in the series ( the reason is unclear.. actually doesn't serve any purpose!!).

Acting is not bad with the cast giving an earnest performance!!

Downers - the non linear narrative, coupled with names that r cumbersome to remember ( keep in mind , it is a Polish series !!) make it difficult to co-relate things and piece together the finer nuances of the tale!! The ending too leaves more questions than answers.. with the conclusion left entirely up to the viewers!!

Hope there is a sequel soon to give answers and provide closure to the unfortunate viewers!!

Not bad .. a one time watch. Cudve been much much better with the writers doing their job especially in the last three episodes of this 6 part series!!

Going with 2.5/5 .. adios 🙂!!

#sanjuzzreviews #netflixindia #detectiveforst #polishwebseries.

The latest offering from Netflix Polski (or whatever they call themselves) offers something of a dilemma. Forst is the filming of a novel about a 'renegade / maverick' - aren't they all? - detective, the eponymous Forst, and I, for one, suspect that there are crucial elements in the novel which either didn't make it to the series or perhaps could not make it.

In short, in a sense the sum of its parts just don't make it into a whole. We are left to choose: is this 'a thriller', 'a psycho-drama' investigating childhood trauma or perhaps, least likely of all, an 'art film' masquerading as a thriller. Whichever it is - and I'm not at all sure - it leaves just a little to be desired.

Because I prefer to avoid giving spoilers in my reviews rather than tick the 'spoilers' box, I must tread carefully, but I shall do my best. But, frankly, Forst jumps the shark rather too often. Sometimes that doesn't matter - as we say 'it's not the joke, it's the telling of the joke'. But with Forst unfortunately it does matter.

Forst kicks off with two highly unusual murders, which are both so elaborate the staging of the bodies could not have been achieved by just one person. Then Forst is introduced and I have to say he doesn't really come across as the 'maverick' we are invited to accept that he is.

There follow, in the each of the six episodes of the series, a number of initially obscure elements (and perhaps I am a tad thick), but one or three remained more than a little obscure when the final scene faded to black. Another unfortunate development is that the 'plot' or whatever one wants to call it makes 90 degree turn in the last two episodes and although both 'plots' are seemingly related, none of it is too convincing and the connection between them is not at all clear. Perhaps it will all come a little clearer in 'the second series'.

Then there's the cinematography and the soundtrack: both are more than intriguing and interesting, but neither is 'relevant'. In fact, both are in many ways what is 'best' about the series but both add to a suspicion that Forst is rather too much style and not enough content. And again I am left with the impression that cinematography, especially all that weird camera angled stuff and music borrowing heavily from electronica do the heavy lifting in a great many films.

Take away either, especially 'wacky' soundtrack and that 'thrilling', horror or mystifying scene pretty much doesn't stack up. Both before the function - as here in Forst - of informing the viewer 'right this is the frightening bit'. Taking out the garbage or going down the shop can seem 'mysterious', 'horrifying' or 'thrilling' if you slap a soundtrack on the footage of the deed.

I'm stymied in my comments by my stated commitment not to include spoilers, but I can say that when the final scene does fade to black, there are more than enough loose ends - and not just that final scene - to irritate.

As I say, in many ways Forst is the triumph of style over content. That is fair enough if that is your bag and it often is for me. But I do get the feeling Forst is playing both ends agains the middle and wanting its cake and eating it. Sadly, something doesn't quite come off. That's a shame, but that's as it is.

At the time of writing this has a 5.6 rating on IMdB. That might be misleading: Forst is a great ride, but somehow, though, ita doesn't quite deliver.

The Poles know how to make quality, dark crime thrillers and dramas. That's why it was a pity that this was not one of them. The series starts promisingly, but by the third episode at the latest, the downward spiral begins. The series becomes more and more implausible and illogical. At the same time, the number of clichés increases. Not even the twist at the end saves the series. That in itself is very unfortunate. The beginning seemed promising, the series was well made, shot and staged. The landscapes were on the one hand starkly beautiful and on the other hopeless. This was a missed opportunity.

This series has an excellent premise, a very interesting and solid development, a severe amount of violence, a cunning villain, relatively well-developed characters, a fluid and tense script, good actors, good performances, atmosphere and photography that are always heavy and suffocating, in other words the almost perfect recipe. At times it even reminded me of Seven.

But the ending is absolutely disappointing. I even think that the final scene was written on purpose to leave a hook for a second season. However, I believe that if there is, it will be clear that everything would be resolved with one more episode, not an entire season. It would give a rate of 7, but with that ending, 6 is enough.

Some screenwriters need to be humble and remember that sometimes less can be more.