Safe (2018) User Reviews (470)

Not sure what the problem is

[blanche-2 · 8/10 · 14 July 2019]

I'm a bit confused, and perhaps I need to stop watching anything.

First of all, I'm a sucker for British mystery, suspense, anything. I've seen thousands , from Hammer B movies to Masterpiece Theater ad infinitum. I am going out on a limb and saying I really enjoyed this. It concerns a teenage girl who goes missing after a party, and one by one, neighbors in a gated community are connected to it. I thought it was very well done.

From the reviews I read on this site, the general feeling seemed to be (1) it was a soap opera; (2) the acting was bad and one-dimensional; and (3) Michael C. Hall's attempt at a British accent was laughable.

First off, it was a miniseries, and because it continued from episode to episode, it had some soap opera elements. I didn't mind that. I found it suspenseful and intriguing. A few people said they weren't sure if it was a drama or a comedy. That is because there were a few segments that were dark comedy. Again, before today, I didn't know drama could not have any comedy in it and vice versa.

I have no understanding -NONE - of how anyone can say with a straight face, given their impressive list of credits, that Michael C. Hall, Amanda Abbington, Marc Warren, and Audrey Fleurot - all of whom I've seen do other things - can't act, are one dimensional, or bad. Ridiculous.

Okay, Michael C. Hall's accent. I've been to England, I have British friends, I watch enormous amounts of British shows -- and I fail to see what was wrong with his accent except that he didn't sound like Dexter.

At first I thought the people complaining were actually Brits - my sister lived in England, came home with a British accent, and her friends in England were still teasing her about her American accent - so they hear something we don't. But no. Sorry, I would love for someone to tell me what was wrong with his voice.

Anyway, I thought this was good, compelling, and kept me interested.

Strong moments combined with borderline stupidity, saved by superb acting

[CountJonnie · 7/10 · 16 December 2018]

Safe is about a family living in a sort of a community. After the loss of his wife, he is trying to move on with his daughters and new girlfriend. But everything falls apart when is daughter turns out missing after a party, and everyone seems to have one small bit of a puzzle, which is otherwise also connected to a mysterious shared past.

Michael C Hall plays the father who was never there, and is now desperately searching for his daughter in a series that brilliantly merges flashbacks with strong storytelling. Besides Hall, the supporting cast is amazing as well.

The minus, is the stupidity that appears more and more. Decisions like confronting bad people alone, instead of informing the police, thrusting unknown people and not your own family, not recognizing blatant lies etc. etc. All this is used to create tension and momentum, but wouldn't it be refreshing if series depended less on stupid decisions and find more creative ways to expand a story? Still, this series is interesting and exciting and absolutely worth a watch.

Everybody lies! If you like Broadchurch give this a go...

[karlmarsh · 8/10 · 11 May 2018]

This series had me hooked after episode one which is rare for me. It reminded me a great deal of Broadchurch in relation to the twists and the possibility that anybody could be the perpetrator(s).

Some strong acting really drove the suspense and it was nice to see M C Hall's strengths as an emotional actor which is the complete opposite to his character in Dexter.

Overall I would give this an 8 out of 10. It kept me entertained and I watched all episodes in one sitting. My only slight grief I can not explain without spoilers so will leave it there.

Give it a go if you liked Broadchurch.

Great pace, good acting but predictable ending

[maragachi · 7/10 · 12 May 2018]

I loved the series although MC Hall's British accent was awkward! The series gets nicely complex until Ep 6 when the underlying thread becomes evident and thus predictable ending even the final twist was seen a mile away. That said, it doesn't take away from viewing as it still engrossing albeit you know how it will end. It is also clearly a British production which is far superior to any US broadcast network junk one sees on major networks. All in all I recommend watching it

Strong story that keeps you guessing up until the end.

[johannes2000-1 · 8/10 · 21 October 2018]

I liked it. It's nice to see a series that has a head and a tail, that doesn't leave you in limbo at the end, vaguely aiming at possible sequels. Here we start with a murder and a disappearance in episode 1, and every next episode brings new clues (alongside new questions), so that more and more the mysteries get solved. While the script (by creator and famous thriler-writer Harlan Coben) keeps you on the edge of your chair until the last minutes of the last episode!

The acting is - as in any other British detective series - flawless by every character, up until in the smallest parts. But Michael C. Hall (Dexter, Six feet under) really stands out as the concerned, frustrated and gradually exasperated father who desperately tries to find his daughter, behaving in the process as a bull on the loose in a china-shop. Co-star Amanda Abbington is also great, but I kept being a bit distracted by her weird haircut. And special mention of the actors that played the family Marshall, who were very funny!

Greatly recommended!

Dead Pool

[Lejink · 6/10 · 12 August 2021]

I've never read a Harlan Coben novel, but I've now watched two or three TV adaptations of his and think I'm getting used to his style. The action starts off with a death, on this occasion, the drowning of an attitudinal schoolboy at a late night party being held at the swankiest house with its own pool in a small gated community of the spoilt daughter of her shady dad and docile mum. Then dial in about a bazillion potential suspects, cross reference with another bazillion sub-plots, stir, throwing in another murder and finish it off with a highly unlikely twist you couldn't have predicted if it was coming straight at you and had "Big twist coming" tattooed on its forehead.

You want sub-plots, I'll give you subplots. A teenage girl, the girlfriend of the dead boy goes missing. Her dad, a local surgeon nurtures feelings of guilt because he was starting an affair with a neighbour while his terminally ill wife was breathing her last. Said neighbour just happens to be the lead detective on the murder trail. She's being assisted by a zealous young female cop who is both pregnant and a "widow", her cop boyfriend having been killed in the line of duty. She's transferred back to this small town to hook up with her dad who abandoned her at birth but who's since come out as gay and is the best pal of the doctor above. Not forgetting that the dead boy's mother is being blackmailed for having sex with one of her underage pupils.

What it all really boils down to of course in true Coben style is a dark secret in the distant past which comes to light in the present day disrupting the lives of most of the folk we've encountered in the town. Told over eight 45-minute episodes, the story went up down and around the town before all was revealed in the final episode.

Naturally, it was all totally unbelievable but somehow it managed to follow its crazy quilt narrative all the way to its frankly incredible final revelation at the very end.

This ITV mini-series was plain silly most of the time and wasn't helped either by some distinctly soap-opera quality acting but it somehow got where it might have been going. Efficiently made and engaging enough, with the occasional good performance, or snappy line of dialogue or camera-shot, this was like a cake with just too many ingredients and in the end, proved a bit too much to digest.

.

Drama Thriller of the Year.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 9/10 · 23 May 2018]

I am an addict of thrillers, mysteries, whodunits, and it's fair to say they've declined in number and quality. Then came Safe, and I have to be honest, I loved from start to finish, it was gripping, intelligent, thrilling, and at times very uncomfortable viewing. As has been mentioned, similar to Broadchurch, but slightly more of a thriller feel to it, more action then Broadchurch.

Two episodes stand out, the finale is brilliant, so action packed, so gripping. The best viewing comes from Part 4, which is intense, dramatic, and features a scene which in today's climate holds perhaps a little too much realism.

It's multi layered, the writing is superb, I'm hoping we get more of this style of show in the future. Amazing acting throughout, plaudits to Michael C. Hall, who is superb from start to finish. Amanda Abbington, Audrey Fleurot and Marc Warren also stand out.

I was a bit dubious, but do yourself a favour, watch it, it's fantastic drama. 9/10

No need to find Jenny

[symphonyjade · 6/10 · 11 November 2022]

I'm giving this a six because it kept me around (frustratingly so) long enough to want to see how it ends.

Plus, I like Michael C. Hall. As Dexter, he will forever be my favourite fictitious serial killer. As Dr. Delaney, I'm going to need him to NEVER DO A "BRIDDISH" ACCENT AGAIN!😟

How do so many people with a wide range of careers afford to live in a posh, gated community?

As for Jenny, she is a ridiculous character whose motivations are ALL stupid and irrational. No one should bother looking for her if she goes missing. NO ONE!!

Also, the girl who threw the party is beyond insufferable.

8 for entertainment, 6 for plot and 10 for addiction.

[nicktatta · 8/10 · 13 May 2018]

It's not a bad show....the acting is better than average. Dexter is good. The end is a twist....honestly I liked it and I'm tired of picking shows apart....I binge watched it in two days and I enjoyed it all...

It's not the best plot but it keeps you guessing....character development is rapid and fails in many ways...

The Other Dexter

[garnet-30306 · 7/10 · 10 July 2018]

I must admit I'm only here because of Dexter (I'm just joking !) . Michael C. Hall, I should say. It's been a long time, and so I looked. I haven't finished it yet, but so far, I'm glued to every episode because of new revelations every now and then.

I'm enjoying it. It's not Dexter (far from it). But I'm enjoying the different characters presented and the secrets that each of them is keeping...and how it will eventually play in the end.

And so the question is how "safe" are we, really? Maybe Jenny can answer that.

So, go ahead, watch !

Everyone has secrets..

[MrVarta · 8/10 · 10 May 2018]

Its very nice to see Michael C Hall again, his acting is perfect he shows just the right emotions witch every human will show if you're daughter or son goes missing. I've just seen the first episode it begins to show you who the characters are. Nice and loving people but are they really?

You can clearly see there are some father daughter problems but what they are is at this point unknown which makes you guess. What secrets is she keeping from me, and why?

He completely trusts his daughter but when see goes missing he tries to find out who her friends are. which aren't the kind he was hoping for.

The first episode begins slow but you feel the tension building and at the end of the episode there lies the climax you'll want. And hurry to the next episode.

It's more a 61/2

[Headturner1 · 7/10 · 6 December 2019]

Ok people. Michael C was David on Six feet under years before Dexter! I never watched Dexter but loved Six feet under. So quit stereotyping him. He's his accent wasn't great tho I kept thinking what if i didn't know he was American. I watched all episodes in one sitting last night so I liked it. I watch mostly UK series and saw some familiar faces from the others. I think it was a good watch and that's about all folks.

Jenny Delaney character is the biggest idiot EVER

[asmit-14110 · 1/10 · 20 December 2020]

I felt so annoyed by Jenny Delaney during the entire show. Most stupid, outrageous character ever. An annoying 16 year old playing detective for a crime her dead mother committed 20 years before? Then confronting all the suspects? What did she expect like honestly? So stupid.

Another weak Koblen series

[ikanboy · 6/10 · 12 May 2018]

This is chock full of characters and side plots and quasi noirish plot, but like "The Five" it delves into silliness rather than solid drama. Not just one Surgeon, but two who have plenty of time to be Detectives. Two women Detectives, one with a quirky hairdo (with a husband living in a trailer in the garden), a comedy relief cockney/Indian family, a Mental Institution (De Rigueur) a long lost father, and worst of all a great French actress given a lousy role to play (but at least she doesn't try on a British accent like our hero does). It is entertaining and moves fast. Fast enough to ignore the plot holes? You decide.

Way better than expected.

[kitellis-98121 · 8/10 · 11 July 2018]

I'm amazed that so many people have slated this series.

I'm a pretty discerning viewer, with high standards in regard to production values, quality of writing directing and performance, and overall technical and artistic excellence. I'm a stickler for detail, violently object to having my intelligence as a viewer insulted, and am very critical of everything that I watch. But after avoiding this series (due to bad reviews) for some time, I eventually decided to watch it, expecting the worst.

Perhaps, then, my lowered expectations were partly responsible for me enjoying it so much. It certainly wasn't perfect, but I was gripped from beginning to end, and was very well satisfied with the overall quality of the production and all the elements I listed earlier.

I did feel that the last episode was a little rushed, and rather desperately flailed around trying to tie-up all the various narrative threads, but it was a satisfying (if somewhat predictable) conclusion.

My main concern before watching, having read numerous comments and reviews about it, was Michael C. Hall's accent. I have been a huge fan of his through Six Feet Under and Dexter, but had very low expectations of him being able to pull-off a convincing British accent. (Americans doing bad British accents is also a big pet peeve of mine!)

So I was frankly astonished at how well he did it. I am British, and speak with basically the same accent as his character. He sounded just like me, consistently and throughout, apart from two very brief and minor slips - neither of which would have betrayed him as an American (more likely a Brit with a regional accent who's had elocution lessons to sound less provincial).

Anyone knocking his accent in this is either just looking for ways to attack and fixing on an obvious target (though an unwarranted one) or else is unable to properly recognise or analyse accents because of their own poor ear for such things.

In my opinion, this was very much an above average series, and Hall was fabulous in it.

Great all the way through but very poor ending

[kirsten-kairuz · 6/10 · 9 November 2021]

This would have got a much higher rating if it wasn't for the really anti-climatic and somewhat ridiculous ending! I binge watched this in 2 sittings and loved the suspense - thought it was gripping and fantastic! But the end...

DON'T read further if you haven't watched it...

What kid hides out in their neighbors house knowing their dad is going crazy looking for her? And all for a crime that she didn't even commit - makes zero sense! And all of this drama for a crime that was committed decades ago?!? So unrealistic! This had so much potential but the writer fell so badly short on the backstory - it was weak to say the least! Not to mention the random side-story of the daughter finding her gay father - what was the purpose of that even? (just felt like that had been thrown in there to try and be inclusive)

Good, found the ending odd

[charlottehawrylak · 9/10 · 14 June 2020]

I watched both this and the stranger and the stranger has really negative reviews about the ending being unbelievable. I actually felt safe was less believable, but still good.

The ending isn't bad, or full of plot holes per say, although it is hard to believe a middle-aged woman would kill a teenage boy. If the secret about the fire did mean so much to her (which it did) there perhaps needed to be just a tad more dialogue and emphasis on this- to make her actions seem less of a massive overreaction. One conversation where she expresses how she'd be unable to live with herself if this all comes out would have helped support the ending.

I also don't understand why Jenny was hiding from her father?

Otherwise, it is really good. The acting is fab, its really gripping, the characters are good and you'd be watching until the end. I like the way answers are relevaled throughout, with still a big revolution at the end. You don't find out about the key event that ties everything together until one of the last episodes, but you can still draw some conclusions about subplots.

This British Crime Show Wasn't As Good As I Hoped

[AudioFileZ · 6/10 · 14 May 2018]

It's not a stretch to say Dexter was so good as a series in no small part due to Michael Hall. Hall arrived with the role of a lifetime as far as fit goes and he matured quickly as the series quickly found it's legs. Hall is back and he's definitely trying to inhabit another character from the written page which he likely finds interesting. This time it's not a hand in glove fit. While the character of Dr. Tom Delaney may be good for his own artistic growth it has the distinct feel of a "fish out of water". Hall has a bit of trouble selling it and the accent isn't the whole problem. He's a bit edgy and sharp not like Dexter's laid-back cool vibe that endears one.

The shows a Brit crime mystery which is generally a sharper, often a less bombastic more intense kind of a human drama. I tend to like the Brit flavor when compared to America's offering. However, it's going to take some getting used to seeing "Dexter" as Tom Delaney in simplest terms.

I don't think this is one of the best of the genre and it's not a BBC production. While these two things shouldn't be linked I get the idea this is one the BBC would pass on. I'm not too keen on the whole lot. An unsolved old crime with adolescents then and now who just happens to want to get involved. The degrees of separation aren't really that compelling even if it's a proper mess of involving multiple crimes over time. A father searching for his daughter who disappears after her mother's death becomes the flashpoint for a mashup of bad things. I think it goes for a intricate plot that may read better than the show pulls off. It's intelligent somewhat, but it's not something that really grabs me. I confess I watched because it was smart enough to throw breadcrumbs which I was hoping would end in something I found more crazy smart. So while I can't call it a stupid story I will call it full of forced incidents that were suppose to be clever and ended up more maddening. In the end I don't even think a slight middle-age woman can drown a strapping teenage boy so that's kind of a fail at the big reveal juncture. As you can tell I'm not particularly impressed enough to recommend this, however I will concede this is a yarn to likely be polarizing as in there will be an audience that appreciates it more than me.

Some People Just Can't Be Satisfied

[clintstevens · 10/10 · 13 May 2018]

I admit I am a sucker for British crime series, and I can add this one to the 'loved it' column. A great 'who-done-it' that keeps your interest from beginning to end. You have to pay attention as it jumps time frames occasionally, and it's a little difficult keeping the adult and teen characters straight, but it is well worth the 6 plus hours spent watching. Ignore the few negative reviews...some people insist on finding fault with every movie and show they watch, and consider themselves expert reviewers, full of film knowledge, when it fact, they are just full of themselves. Watch this one, you'll be glad you did.

" the truth always comes out"-really?!?

[vered-razavayo · 7/10 · 13 May 2018]

Love MC Hall I'll see almost everything of his, but- Was good in the 6 first episode,complex, well told, but theResolution was so lame. When you write something so complicated it's pity to turn it to a soap opera.

Rather good production with international cast

[BeneCumb · 8/10 · 25 July 2018]

Recent decades have brought along so many good crime dramas from UK and Scandinavia that it is easy to become pretentious and eager to find errors and unrealised solutions. But if the story has framework, the events are intertwined. the wrongdoer(s) do(es) not become obvious too soon and performances are far above average, then I have no reason to purse my lips. I liked Michael C. Hall here as well (he was neither Dexter Morgan nor David Fisher), but my biggest admiration goes to Audrey Fleurot whom I had memorized in some catchy French TV series and films.

Well, the teens were again performed by adults and there is a twist in the ending which I began to predict - but it did not create wtf! reactions. True, Safe is e.g. no Luther or Line of Duty, but definitely not a disappointment to be rated with a couple of points only.

I have just one question (spoiler alert!)

[blinkie1969 · 6/10 · 19 March 2021]

How did the father of Craig know who were involved in the school fire??? It was a secret among those who participated and Craig didn't talk anymore.

Complicated yet boring.

[philip-00197 · 5/10 · 17 March 2020]

It's not the first time... you feel the plot, direction and acting somehow lures you in. Nothing is happening yet. But If it starts out with this much complexity - surely someone has put in massive effort into "the Great Reveal". Surely the hours spent, seemingly, going nowhere are building up to an intricate crescendo - one which clarifies confusion and leads to one of those "aha moments". Sadly, no.

Your time invested will receive no great reward. The ending may just as well have been drawn at random by the National Lottery (your numbers didn't come up this time). The arduous complexity doesn't, by a stroke of script genius, turn into simplicity. The, much longed for, "Now I get it moment" never arises. "Safe" dwindles into a sense of something lacking, possibly with a sting of frustration - while the confusion lingers on.

Micheal C Hall

[abwetman-1-817328 · 6/10 · 10 May 2018]

I find that I can't buy his accent. Micheal C Hall to me is the most American Actor there was no need to do a British accent. Same problem a Eccelston in the Leftovers

Plenty of twists and turns as secrets are revealed following a disappearance

[Tweekums · 9/10 · 6 March 2020]

Tom Delaney is a widower living with his two daughters in an exclusive gated community; he feels safe. Then one day his elder daughter doesn't return from a party; there is no sign of her boyfriend either. While the police start their investigation Tom, with the help of his friend Pete, starts his own unofficial investigation; something that may put them in danger. As the investigation continues many of the community's secrets are revealed before we learn the truth about what happened that night.

Normally I'd include more in my plot description but somethings that are revealed quite early in the series are better not known about when one starts watching. The series gripped me from start to finish with its numerous twists and turns and some good misdirection as various secrets are revealed, all leading to a resolution I didn't see coming. The cast is impressive; Michael C. Hall impresses as Tom, his accent may have slipped occasionally but I soon stopped thinking of him as 'Dexter'. There are also notable performances from Amanda Abbington as Tom's girlfriend who is also the policewoman leading the investigation; Marc Warren, as Tom's friend Pete; Audrey Fleurot, as a teacher with accusations made against her; Hannah Arterton, as a policewoman with a secret; and Nigel Lindsay, as the father of the girl whose party Tom's daughter disappeared from. The series nicely captures the sense that there is something wrong with this community without always being too obvious about it. The ending might be a bit melodramatic for some but I liked it. Overall I'd definitely recommend this to fans of a good mystery.