Chronicle Mysteries: Vines That Bind

There are all those significant looks and cryptic comments by Drew. Certainly looks like he is interested. The situation makes for some positive sparkle.

The story is a decent murder mystery. There are several possible suspects and even more interested parties. So many of them are tied together through one relationship or another. There are some clues for the viewer and some red herrings. I didn't figure it out much ahead of the reveal.

I am not a huge fan of amateur detectives, but I usually check out different series. I was glad to see that Alex isn't a total amateur since she is part of the newspaper and has her podcast series about cold cases. And she has to two guys watching over her even if that doesn't keep her totally safe. At least she isn't reckless about it like some of them are.

We found this 3-movie DVD at our public library, called "Chronicle Mysteries: 3-Movie Collection." Each of the three feature Alison Sweeney in the lead role as Alex McPherson. This third of the three is called "Vines That Bind".

As was established in the first two movies Alex does a podcast but also now runs her uncle's local town weekly newspaper. She is attracted to the death a year earlier of the winemaker, he was working in the vat room and it was ruled an accidental CO2 suffocation. But the family members knew he was a careful, experienced man and doubted the conclusion.

So Alex and her co-workers get involved, the way this movie is done 6 or 8 or 10 different people become suspects and we the audience get mostly confused, until the end scenes where it all becomes obvious. About half-way though I told my wife "I think the family lawyer is behind it all". I don't usually make a good guess.

We watched it at home on DVD from our public library. Not a very memorable movie but we were suitably entertained.

With having now watched three Chronicle mysteries, I feel confident in saying that we can expect to see well thought out mysteries from this TV franchise. Along with an intriguing mystery in each episode, the show has established four or so main characters, their habits and quirks, and their comfort and respect for one another.

I am pretty much watching "Chronicle Mysteries" for the first time back to back with watching "Murder, She Baked" for the first time.

It is genuinely fascinating to watch Alison Sweeney in both shows. I feel like I am watching identical twins. Both may look alike, but they are both completely different personalities, and you would never mistake Hannah for Alex.

I would agree that the cast of secondary characters got a bit confusing in this episode--particularly their relationship to each other. I don't find that to be a flaw, though. Most good murder mysteries are complicated puzzles that, midway through, would definitely benefit from a page or two of flow charts!

My favorite part of this episode was the interplay between the four main characters, the teasing, the concern, and their intuition of what each other were thinking.

Greetings And Salutations, and welcome to my review of The Chronicle Mysteries - Vines That Bind; here's the breakdown of my ratings:

Story: 1.50 Direction: 1.25 Pace: 1.25 Acting: 1.25 Enjoyment: 1.25

TOTAL: 6.50 out of 10.00.

Alex and Drew are back on the murder carousel to show the police who the real detectives are. Will they not only complete the cops' work for them, but will they solve the mystery before the deadline looms? I admit I love this lighthearted and heartwarming type of mystery. I find they're perfect for those times in your life when you don't require too much brain work, like a Sunday morning or a Sunday afternoon. So imagine my surprise when the third instalment of the movie series became more complex by the minute.

Writers Kraig Wenman and Melissa Salmons make the most of their cast of characters and rogues' gallery. There's been a murder at a local winery, and Chronicle columnist Eileen Bruce calls in Alex as a favour for her friends, the winemakers. Put on the spot, Alex must attempt to solve the recent murder of the owner and father, Colton Saulnier. Could any of his sons or their families be responsible for his death? Or could it be a disgruntled employee? Or even his neighbour? Perhaps it's the local green activist who wants to save his little slice of God's green Earth? You would've thought that number of suspects would be enough, but no! Wenman and Salmons add a few twists to each of these characters whilst weaving in one hellaciously intricate scheme. And when you think you have the puzzles figured out, they take a further turn. For a supposedly easy watch on a Sunday Morning, my brain worked overtime to deduce the killer, which I effortlessly accomplished because the casting director made the fatal and foolish error of employing a performer who couldn't be anything but the killer. I hate stereotypical typecasting; it's ruined so many people's enjoyment over the years. I spent most of the time after they appeared on screen wishing it wouldn't be them. And thanks to the narrative's complexity, there was always a possibility I'd be proved wrong. I wasn't. And that's a shame because the writers give the viewers a strong and superbly structured tale filled with credible characters, though these are not as rugged as in episode one - they required more fleshing out.

The direction is sound for a TV Flick. It would be nice to have more creativity in the scene creations. Imagination is never invalid, even if the outcome doesn't work - and the vineyards cried out for a smooth drone shot. One feature I admired was the addition of a varied tempo. I accept it wasn't too varied, but it worked better than keeping it at one pace. It just required more. The scene where Alex is trapped in the winery and poisoned by the polluted air would've been more potent had the director David Weaver, hesitated longer in the winery. This delay would've etched Alex's dire predicament into the audience more. Quickly flip to Drew, looking anxious outside and trying the door handle. Back to Alex, struggling for breath and trying to stay upright. Back outside, Drew's getting violent with the door. Quickly, flip back inside to watch Alex fall to the floor. And the last shot would be Drew kicking in the door and rushing in to save her. The mix of slow and quick scenes would've produced the excitement that's not fully realised in this segment.

The regular cast is on top form, and the suspect performers are also brilliant. I have to mention that I loved Pippa Mackie as Caitlin Saulnier. Mackie does the best anti-poker-face that I've ever seen. Due to her spectacular portrayal of a woman who couldn't bluff her way out of a Charity Stop-N-Sign, I totally believed Caitlin was the killer. And to find out if she is, you'll have to watch the film, which segues me nicely to the recommendation.

If you enjoyed the other Chronicle Mysteries, you'll enjoy Vines That Bind. Just remember, this instalment isn't as simplistic as the first movie. Make sure your brain is in gear to savour it fully.

STOP The PRESSES...Again! Okay, now go and check out my IMDb list - The Game Is Afoot to see where I ranked The Chronicle Mysteries - Vines That Bind.

Take Care & Stay Well.

Not the worse show on Hallmark but the writers kept inserting rightwing rhetoric with phrases like "stand her ground" when a woman holds gun on them, and; "rich man making the world better for me." (The old trickle down economics.) Nepotism prevails. "On the rope" hanging phrase and several others.

As for Sweeny it's good to see a very full figured woman as opposed to those skinny fake snobs. One who never lost that child bearing figure. Although her face seems to show no emotions, you can tell she is struggling with middle age.

Also it's a very white world they live in. The ending is very predictable.