I Came By

This is an honest-to-goodness thriller that keeps you on tenterhooks.

The script is tight, and while it careens to a somewhat expected ending , the way the story is woven engages the viewer. I thought, for a while, that Hector could go on doing his ghastly acts with impunity because he seems so cool and smart that authorities cannot lay a finger on him. That's how effective the plot is to me.

It's a remarkable cast of relatively newbees headlined by Hugh Bonneville and Kelly MacDonald. I like, in particular, how Hugh Bonneville is able to conceal his fiendishness behind a cloak of aristocratic air and respectability; Kelly MacDonald's Lizzy awakens the maternal instinct in the female viewer. She portrays her effectively as the harried, worried and ordinary mom who just wants her stubborn son to succeed; George MacKay as Toby, the son who's clueless as to what he really wants in life but has a natural affinity with those who are maltreated or abused; and finally Percelle Ascott as Jay, Toby's best buddy, a young father who's torn between his love for his young family and close ties with Lizzy and Toby.

All these characters come together to produce a coherent, socially relevant and no-nonsense film.

Watch to enjoy it.

All you fans of thriller genre, I say do not, I repeat, do not miss this thriller. It may seem like the usual break-in thrillers, but believe me this movie will take you by surprise.

Very realistic plot with solid performance by all the cast, specially the performances delivered by antagonist (Hugh Bonneville) and the mother (Kelly MacDonald) which makes this movie much more appealing than what was expected from it.

"I (luckily) Came By" this title on Netflix and I am really glad I did.

Indeed the best in thriller genre to have hit the screen in past couple of months!

If you are someone looking for an unexpected plot with all the elements of surprises with a touch of reality then this one is for you.

The start of the film was slow and although George Mackay did his best, he's a good actor, his character lacks depth and so isn't hugely likeable. Hugh Bonneville makes an excellent villain as to be expected. When the film gets going the 'jumps' work well and suspenseful moments are just that. I for one enjoyed the ending, it doesn't need explanation, just a little imagination. The script was not the best. When the police woman asks Percelle Ascott's character when he last saw Toby he says 'months ago' - what does that mean? 2months? 11?? The police never ask him to be more specific..really bugged me! Some of the direction is lazy or the director thinks we are stupid (there was no need to fixate on the road name sign when we already know what the house looks like and where we are). Weirdly though time moves very quickly in this film, yet there are no landmarks, ie a Christmas or maybe Toby's birthday. When you assume it's the next day it's actually 2 months later, which is weird. Overall once it gets going it's an enjoyable watch.

Netflix has produced a better sort of film with I Came By. The strength of this film lies in its performances. Hugh Bonneville is terrifying and dangerous in this film. He easily transforms from the prim and proper characters he has played so well to a scary figure. The direction is not too bad. The scary music in key scenes and close ups and various camera angles sets a terrifying setting. We get this impression from the start of the film. I liked how the film was somewhat realistic as well. It would have been unrealistic and fan service to show all the main characters were alive in the end. If a person was in a situation with such a careful, paranoid and dangerous person, do you think they would be kept around? The film does not make that mistake and we see the main characters disappear because they were not prepared enough. I feel the storyline could have been stronger. Maybe there could have been a deeper motive for the retired Judge's behaviour? Why did they not explain his sociopathic tendencies for trapping and/or killing people? I feel they could have explained who the man he trapped was and why he was kept alive? These are just the gaps they could fleshed out to make a stronger thriller. Overall a captivating watch, I found it hard to put down and wanted to see how it ended. There was some form of justice but the realistic kind you could imagine in real life.

This is not the Hugh Bonneville you know and love from "Downton Abbey" and "Paddington".

This time in the Horror, Thriller, Mystery "I Came By" here comes the Judge you don't want to mess with.

Actors often told me in interviews that playing a Bad Guy is so much more fun.

Two Graffiti Writers (not Artists let's be clear about this) choose the wrong house to vandalise.

Kelly McDonald plays the role of the widowed mum of tagger Toby" (George McKay) who is a totally unlikeable, lazy, self-obsessed dickhead.

His mate is more sensible and responsible and can actually hold down a day job...one that literally opens doors for them.

Claret will be spilled, however it's more about the body count than the graphic violence, which is mostly offscreen.

This doesn't make "I Came By" any less powerful, just slightly easier to watch.

If you're looking for a Torture film keep walking there's nothing to see here.

On the other hand if you want a great storyline performed by talented actors then sit back, relax and enjoy the view on #Netflix.

Still not for the faint hearted.

Two thumbs up from me.