Murder in the Outback: Black Snow Review:

“In 2019 I predict that Ashford still will be full of predators, disguised as friends. I’ve seen the anchor here, sharpening its saithe, waiting to reap our souls. There are people here I trusted but now I know they feed of suffering. One day, when I am safe from their clutches, I will expose them in their cruelty. That’s if they don’t kill me first.”

These words from a letter placed in a time capsule that was buried 25 years ago contains vita new evidence that reopens a long unsolved cold case murder in Australia. 

The opening scene has a young girl in a telephone box with the phone to her ear looking fearful as a car pulls up. The telephone suddenly dangles down. 

Black Snow is a six-part original series on BBC Four: it is a well-made murder mystery and has great twists and turns that keeps the viewer guessing. It is set in the Australian South Sea Islander community of North Queensland. The whole narrative of the show is based between 1994-2019 and goes back and forth in time as the story unfolds.

It begins in 2019 with Detective James Cormack (Travis Fimmel), who goes up north to investigate the mysterious mystifying murder of indigenous teenager Isabel Baker (Talijah Blackman-Corowa) in 1994. He begins to unravel the secrets and lies buried in the town as he searches for the truth to her killing. Black Snow also highlights the social problems of being an outsider in your own country and gives us a sense of the islander communities complex relationship within Australia. 

This is a well-constructed whodunnit and it is interesting to see how the creator (Lucas Taylor) and Directors (Sian Davies/Matthew Saville) reveal the underlying tones of the dark history of the trade in pacific Islanders who were brought to Australia from the mid 19th century to work in the cane fields. This topic is then weaved intelligently and sympathetically into a murder case.

The show also follows Cormack’s personal demons. The audience finds out that his brother is also another missing person case, (which drives his desire to solve cases at all costs) and his estranged dad is in prison. 

Most of the actors in this show are relatively new to acting which was a breath of fresh air and not only showcases new people to look out for in the film industry but added authenticity to the characterization and storyline. They were a talented bunch without exception. 

The background music was atmospheric and gave scenes a more of sinister feel, such as the clanging of metal on metal that bookended each episode.

Black Snow is an effective, engaging, and worthwhile crime drama that has all the elements that make a murder mystery compelling. 

It may seem like I haven’t given you much of the plot but I don’t want to give any spoilers. 

This TV show is unmissable watch for everyone (not just whodunnit fans) and I can’t wait to watch season two which is being developed now. 

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