I'm back to the last two discs in the Michael J. Murphy box set and disc 9 starts off with his first foray into digital, rather than using 16mm, 'Roxi'.

'Roxi' is not a direct remake but uses themes and plot points from both his films 'Almost A Movie' (1979) & 'Death In The Family' (1981) and it is once again set in Greece, his first film there for about 25 years.

If you are familiar with those earlier films this is a Crime Thriller with plenty of twists. This film definitely has a better calibre of actors than we see in many of Murphy's films with both Mary-Anne Barlow (Roxi) & Ross Maxwell (Sean), putting in pretty good performances, unfortunately, I found something missing with this interpretation and the film in general.

I can understand why Murphy changed to digital, it was 2005, and was a much more affordable way of making films, and with the miniscule budgets Murphy worked with, saving money is a premium, but it doesn't look right to me. Another reviewer said it felt more like a soap opera special and that sums it up perfectly. It's not as tightly plotted as previous films, there is a lot of fluff and unnecessary chat to stretch it to 92 minutes and It also feels far too familiar.

If you are watching the box set out of order then that may not be an issue and Murphy has repurposed plots before, particularly with 'Tristan & Iseult' but those three films all felt quite different from each other. However, I've been watching the box set in order and there is absolutely nothing in 'Roxi' he hasn't done before and better.

Locations are the exact ones I remember from his early films, as is the plot. To be honest he does a few things this time round that feel totally unbelievable with the story. There are also several effects shot of people falling off cliffs that just don't hold up for a film made in 2005.

Lastly the ending, which in previous versions felt clever, this time round just feels like a massive exposition dump to over explain everything.

This was definitely a bit of a misfire in his body of work, but I'll always respect Michael J. Murphy for continuing to make films for as little as he did, even if they don't all hit the mark.

The crime genre features criminal activities, investigations, law enforcement, crimes, and the pursuit of justice. Crime stories often revolve around the planning, execution, and consequences of criminal acts, as well as the efforts to solve and prevent such acts. They explore various aspects of criminal behavior, motives, and the moral dilemmas faced by both perpetrators and those seeking to uphold the law.

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The thriller genre features suspense, tension, and excitement. These stories are known for keeping audiences on the edge of their seats and delivering intense emotional experiences by revolving around high-stakes situations, dangerous conflicts, and the constant anticipation of unexpected events.

A remote Greek island is the perfect place for a long a waited family reunion. But when Roxi's stepson, Sean, arrives without his father, her disappointment soon turns to fear as she realises he is not there for a holiday.

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