Requiem Review: There's Something About Carys

Suspicious tight lipped locals. CHECK. Big isolated country home. CHECK. Suspicious deaths. CHECK. Locked doors and hidden passages. CHECK. Strange symbols about. CHECK. "Requiem" (currently streaming on NetFlix) has all the elements of a compelling mystery.

The Welsh series first aired on BBC One in 2018. It's the story of an up and coming cellist named Matilda (Lydia Wilson). She is preparing for a prestigious residency in the US. Mom Janice slashes her throat in front of her daughter. Eek! Matilda later finds a box of old photos and newspaper clippings. They involve the disappearance of a girl named Carys Howell in the small Welsh town of Penllynith. Off Matilda and her bestie and piano accompanist Hal (Joel Fry) go in search of answers.

The town folk are not very friendly. Luckily Matilda is persistent. The funeral they saw was for Ewan. He owned a big house (where he jumped off the roof to his death). His next of kin is an Australian named Nick. Nick invites them to stay. There's plenty of room after all. A local barkeep (Trudy) eventually befriends Matilda and Hal. At first skeptical, she gradually begins to believe that Matilda is the lost Carys. A young Trudy was babysitting Carys at the time of her abduction (and she has carried that guilt all her life). Matilda approaches a woman (Rose Howell) who she believes to be her mother. Rose is having none of it. Her hot headed husband is going to be a problem.

Matilda finds a book at the Dean House called *Dr. John Dee and the Language of Angels*.There may be a cult at work. Who all could be involved? Everyone looks suspicious including: antiques dealer Sylvia, retired copy Stephen and the Satlows. This cult is using children for some sort of ceremony. And that's where I'll leave it for you to unravel for yourself.

Grade: 4 1/2 Monsters (out of 5). I'm a sucker for a good mystery and "Requiem" provides that in spades as Matilda heads to a Welsh town to undercover her past. The show is gorgeous (with some great shots of Wales). The music adds to the creepy atmosphere. My only criticism is that the show moves at a snails pace. Overall, I still enjoyed the series though. I think there is more to explore in the town of Penllynith. Will we get a season 2 or if this the end of the line?