Haven
Tags: paranormal

Plot synopsis:
A corrupt and greedy businessman, Carl Ridley (Bill Paxton), is running from the government, with his 18-year-old daughter Pippa (Agnes Bruckner) in tow. Pippa is not happy to leave her friends and comfortable life in Miami for the Cayman Islands.
Arriving in the islands, Ridley is preoccupied. Banks are rapidly closing and he must find a clean place to store his stolen money. Meanwhile, Pippa finds native Caymanian Fritz (Victor Rasuk) sleeping off a late night in her bed. He flees out the window, leaving his wallet behind. She later finds Fritz on the beach to return his wallet and befriends him, in spite of his ridiculous come-on attempts.
Fritz is yearning to show her the island, including its wild parties. But he owes money to island gang leader Richie Ritch (Raz Adoti), and when he peeks in on Pippa's father unwrapping a massive amount of cash that he had taped around his torso, Fritz begins scheming. Pippa is completely unaware that she's leading her father into even more trouble than he had in the United States.
A parallel storyline involves Shy (Orlando Bloom), a Cayman native. He is in love with Andrea (Zoë Saldaña), the daughter of his boss, Mr. Sterling, a very influential person in the island. But for an unknown reason, Andrea's brother Hammer (Anthony Mackie) despises Shy. To protect their secret affair, whenever Shy would visit Andrea at home his good friend Kimo would watch the house in case Andrea's father were to arrive. On Andrea's birthday Shy visits her house and has sex with her, but Kimo falls asleep and fails to warn Shy of Sterling's arrival. Shy escapes out the window, but not without being identified by Hammer. Later on, to avenge his sister's lost womanhood, Hammer attacks Shy with acid which leaves a permanent scar on Shy's face. Hammer is sent to jail for four months.
Physically and emotionally scarred, Shy becomes a recluse. Andrea is emotionally broken and gives in to drugs and sex. Shy has his friend Patrick, the son of Mr. Allen (Ridley's lawyer), take him to Richie's birthday party to find Andrea. Finding her in the bathroom having sex with a stranger, he runs into the front yard and vomits. She runs after him but he pushes her away knowing that she is high. Hammer sees Shy and begins to beat him up with help from his friends. Shy finally breaks free and runs down the street as Hammer curses at him, telling him to stay away.
Meanwhile, at the same party, Fritz gets pulled in to see Richie while Pippa talks to a few other white girls doing drugs. Upset after smoking some pot, she finds Fritz and demands that he take her home. Having just told Richie to go to her home to steal the cash, he instead takes her to Mr. Sterling's yacht. As they sit down inside, they find that the alarm has been set off; the police arrive shortly and arrest both of them. Pippa is taken to the police station, while Fritz is transported to a laundromat where a local cop who knows him delivers a lecture and a beating for acting disobediently throughout his life.
After his own beating, Shy obtains a gun and returns to the party to find Hammer. After firing the gun to clear out the party, he corners Hammer and explains what a mess Hammer has made of his own sister's life. He says that he will spare Hammer's life so that he can watch the trouble that he has caused in Andrea's life. Hammer replies that he would rather see Andrea become a whore than be with Shy. Enraged, Shy pulls the trigger. Shocked by what he has done, he apologizes and runs off.
Over the next few hours, Andrea asks Patrick to take her to find Shy. He is disgusted with her and kicks her out of his car, but tells her that Shy is at the docks. When she finds him, she expresses her desire to be with him, regardless of others' feelings. When he confesses to killing her brother, however, she leaves him in disgust, forgetting her shoes in her hurry.
When Allen and Ridley go to the police station the next morning, Ridley soon realizes that he has been betrayed and is taken into custody by the FBI. When Allen goes home to retrieve the money that he believes he tricked Ridley into leaving in his safe, he discovers that the bag contains only sand and a conch shell. At her own condo, Pippa discovers the million dollars under her mattress.
In the final scenes, Andrea prepares for Hammer's funeral with her father, Kimo comforts Shy's mother, and Shy sits on the dock where Andrea left him. He then gets into his boat, cuts the rope and motors away, throwing the gun into the water.

Review: For any individual who loved the good old classic Twilight Zone episodes, or spent hours before Marathons of X-Files, for every kid who grew up on those wonderfully imaginative Sci-Fi comic books, or embroiled themselves in an unfolding mystery - Haven is for you.
I don't have cable, so I'm not really familiar with a lot of the new shows, but after seeing this is based on the Colorado Kid story by Stephen King, and by being a fan of his work, I decided to check out the show.I came into the show late; the first episode I saw was the third episode 'Consumed' but that was enough to get me interested.
The show takes on some very interesting supernatural elements (with a lot of Stephen King references within them) and it makes for a very entertaining show.The acting is great, the writing is fun and the two leads, Emily Rose (Audrey Parker) and Lucas Bryant (Nathan Wournos) have great chemistry, while Eric Balfour (Duke) always brings a fun element to the show.
And the small harbour town, again, makes for a "small town feel" amongst the great cast of characters but also allows room for the outside to come in which can be good at the right time.
e) Having a link to Stephen King and his novel "The Colorado Kid" definitely draws in even more viewers.All in all, we need more shows like Haven!.
Emily Rose, who I really enjoyed in 'Jericho' (a show that ended before its time), performs the role of a temporarily displaced FBI agent who just might get some answers about her own unknown past from this strange little town, should she stay.
Between the mysterious tale of a small town with an otherworldly aura and the possibility that Agent Audrey Parker has discovered nuggets of her own obscure history, 'Haven' is the premise for some sort of a 'Twilight Zone' hued hit for the muggy months of summer and each episode just gets hotter!.
Because it gets better and ends in a scene that makes you want to watch more.But the best thing is the wonderful chemistry among the characters, but specially between Emily Rose and Lucas Bryant, whose characters have grown closer and definitely need each other.I'm happy SyFy gave this show a second season because I'm sure it could last more than this..
I finally pulled the Haven Disks off the Netflix queue after waiting for something else to watch now that I've finally managed to shake the 'Fringe' Hangover off.Now I wasn't expecting anything stellar-- just entertaining with a dash of the Weird & Supernatural.It started off Okay in the beginning of Season 1.
Problem 3-- No Empathy whatsoever on the part of the FBI gal for ANYONE...except herself and the half-romantic interest in her partner.Problem 4-- By episode 8, I feel like I'm watching a show about a grown-up High School Clique where the Popular Girl gets to walk around and solve problems with her rather weak, unempathetic smirk and we're supposed to cheer.Unfortunately, I was forced back into a mental comparison with Fringe.
Yes, it is beautifully set (which is why I didn't give it a 1) but the main characters are stone-like - it was impossible for me to engage with them on any level - and the stories are just silly.You get a lot of scope with SciFi so you'd think it would be hard to muck it up, but muck it up they did.
I've watched several episodes of Haven to give it time to develop.
After watching this show, every episode i might add, i have found it to be a true masterpiece of American TV drivel.The not so original plot involves a town, full of special people being accidentally found by FBi agent, (ripoff of eureka from the beginning) The plot looks like such a copy of eureka that at the beginning it even have said agent crash her car, just as jack in eureka ep1 did...They have made the story so dull by spoon feeding the plot to the audience, its might as well me a Jerry springer show, you know what going to happen, you know whose fault it probably is etc.Not to mention the actors are well, shoddy to say the least, especially when cgi is involved, they just flail around and sort of look in the general direction of things, and when driving, apparently they are driving through an obstacle coarse as the steering-wheel get practically spun half the time, and when they car is being controlled by a mystical force, they continue to steer even though they supposedly have no control?Then there is how ridiculous the story can be, such as the FBI agent going around blurting out things that no one in their real mind would say if they wanted to keep their jobs.Overall i truly cannot believe that a show like "a town called eureka" gets canceled because its not bringing in a high enough budget to line the top peoples pockets and instead we get something like this with the cheapest actors and temp writers copying other shows and spoon feeding the audience with their lack of creativity..
The premise is based on a small town in Maine called Haven, where some people get supernatural powers for unknown reasons.
When I watch most 70's and 80's TV I see wooden acting and hokey production- not as bad as 50's and 60's TV/movies, but not that much better.I wanted to like this series.
I love supernatural themes and I think the main actress, Emily Rose, is a great lead character, her fresh and sincere and yet slightly tough face compelled me to give the series another chance after the ridiculous pilot, but even watching two more episodes, nothing changed for the better.There's no character development of these extraordinary sci-fi events, so far it's been people who don't even know they're wielding some super power, and the emotional investment I have, other than in the lead character, is zilch.The premise has promise, but the execution and directing are just poorly done TV..
I started to watch Haven mostly because of the fact that it is based on a Stephen King story, and at first it's what it actually did look like.
At the moment I'm watching season 3 and wondering where it went, because it is now so much like any other TV show where the plot is not important as much as the relationship between the characters-four main characters at the moment.The plot has gone through the roof and not in a good direction,and too far, and actually, all that's keeping me watch it is the gorgeous scenery, this beautiful, splendid little town where they are filming the show, and to be honest, I am fond of the characters, so I find myself watching the show to look at the people and the set, because,like I said, it hardly makes any sense anymore, although it seems like it develops further on, it is simply going beyond believable even for a King fan.
The first three seasons defined the show well but once the fourth started everything turned a little sour and it lost the spark it once had.As a general concept Haven is new and fresh with a nice mystery thriller tone and a supernatural edge.
The fact that the town is cut off from the rest of America and most of the action is in Haven, actually enhances the appeal of the show as it gives it a personal feel and that you begin to 'know' the town and its characters.
It will be interesting to see how the second season develops, as you would hope that the series continues in the same vein and does not go too far 'out there'..Overall, a great show and watch more than just the first episode...
The first episode in the third season looks great,the visuals are very good and the acting of the entire cast looks believable.
I like the idea of Haven, it's a good premise but I've found the stories a bit uninspired.
Emily Rose's acting would be a little flat for other shows but as a character coming to Maine, and with the hints in the story about Audrey's mother, I'm guessing--the character is actually FROM Maine, so the frank talk and cool delivery is right on the money for a Maine story.
Overall, I like the characters, I find myself a little surprised and entertained by the nuances, clever jokes and dark humor--all true of Maine people.
Most of the characters remind me of people I know in this state (even though it was filmed in Nova Scotia for budgetary reasons, and does this weird thing of panning over different Maine & NS coastal villages--I've recognized a few of my hometowns--which gives the false impression that it's a bigger town than is characterized in the storyline.) For example, if crumpling a drawing of the "whole town" could destroy everyone in it, then it's not as big a town as implied by the camera angles (showing different sets of buildings and homes each time it pans over the village).
The stories stupid, the characters not interesting, poor acting and so on SInce then I wacthed an episode here and there when it appeared on Sci Fi channel.....
To understand Haven, you really have to watch and after a couple of episodes (if you're a Sci-fi fan) one is pretty much hooked.
The characters are great, the story line draws you into each episode, and the show has heart.
FBI agent Audrey Parker shows up in the small town of Haven, Maine, to discover it's not the sleepy little burg it appears at first glance.
The supernatural runs rampant, with people's uncontrollable abilities causing havoc on a weekly basis.Many episodes have the feel of a procedural cop show with a supernatural twist, although the averarching theme is that of Audrey and her companions trying to find a way to end the "Troubles."The show is based on Stephen King's short story, "The Colorado Kid," and there is a plethora of Stephen King references.
FBI agent Audrey Parker (Emily Rose) is sent to Haven, Maine on a case of a prison escapee.
When the show started it's 1st season, it was somewhat slow and mostly asked to be referred to IMO as 'cute' with this premise of some little town in Maine plagued with supernatural Troubles.
In 2010, the Syfy channel had an interesting idea, to take one of Stephen King's lesser known works, a rare dramatic mystery, The Colorado Kid, and turn it into a Science Fiction story.
While there are similarities to the book and other King works are referenced, the show is surprisingly original.Audrey Parker (Emily Rose) is an FBI agent, who gets a tip that one of her fugitives has been spotted in the small town of Haven Maine.
These brother show Parker some old stories from a unsolved case 25 years earlier, the murder of the Colorado Kid. Why would Audry care about it you ask, well there is a photo in the paper, showing a woman at the crime scene who could pass for her twin.With the chance to discover who she is and where she came from Parker takes a leave of absence from the FBI and joins the Haven P.D. only to discover that the town and it's people are afflicted with something known as the troubles.
These troubled people, for some unknown reason, have ailments that allow them to do the seemingly impossible, such as shape-shifting, destruction with a thought, murder by shadow, the ability to star fires, even an artist who control things simply by drawing them.Parker is paired with the towns only Detective, Nathan Wuornos (Lucas Bryant) who himself is a troubled person.
Together Parker and Wuornos investigate these troubles, trying to find out what's causing them, while at the same time, Audry tries to solve the Colorado Kid case in the hopes that she might one day find out who she is and where she comes from.This show is fantastic and it's not just about the Science Fiction mystery that I love so much.
She has always had bit parts in TV series here and there, but she's never been a star before, but when it comes to Haven she is truly the perfect one to play Audrey Parker.
She brings such a different personality to a sci-fi/cop show and the way the mystery and troubles follow her really draws the audience in.Lucas Bryant is just as interesting as we try to figure out what draws this man into this work.
Balfour plays Duke Crocker, a petty criminal and smuggler, with a terrific sense of humor, who always seems to get caught up in these troubles cases.Haven is amazing, it's just one of these addictive shows that draws you in right from the very first episode.
Season 2 was amazing though and everyone was really into their characters and the overall story had become more interesting and intense.The show is filmed in Nova Scotia, Canada but takes place storywise in Maine (they are both on the east coast and look very similar).
A friend recommended this series and I only watched the first episode of the first season.
Every episode is mostly the same with two cops solving mysteries the exact same way as before with just a pint of information about the main story line.
In fact I stayed with the series for six episodes due to I wanted to know more about the backstory but I don't know if we ever will get the answers to the questions the main character have..
Haven breathes new life into the fantasy genre with its unique blend of investigative/cop drama, mystery/suspense, and sometimes even a touch of horror.
Some people who enjoy cop dramas might like this as well, though this definitely does lean toward the supernatural/fantasy end of things it does involve a lot of problem solving via examination of crime scene evidence etc..
Maybe it was just because I haven't read the book behind this story but I think now they did pretty good job.
I'll just jump right in and say SyFy has a good series with "Haven." The main characters of FBI Agent Audrey Parker and Haven Deputy Nathan Wournos have their own quirks.
UPDATE: I've watched all the episodes in the Second Season, and so far...so good..
Episode 1 starts with the main character driving through a podunk town, and due to a freak accident, she has a run in with a local police officer.
At first glance, Haven seems like a potentially good new series from Syfy.
Whether it is a tidbit of information about Audrey's mother, a strained interaction between Nathan and his father, the mysteriously combative relationship between Duke and Nathan (possibly my favorite) or "the troubles", every episode has offered some small insight.
It hints at "the troubles" being so ingrained into this small towns history that while disturbing to the residents, they are not outside of the realm of possibilities.So far there have been 7 episodes which undoubtedly follow the monster of the week formula, but this is not uncommon in a first season while a series is setting up long term story arcs, and I must admit, while the formula may be well worn, the writers have been pretty creative with the monsters :) I can think of so many other Syfy series that followed a similar path while setting up their worlds.
There was never that "down" or "filler" episode.If you like shows such as the X-files, Supernatural, and Fringe, then you will love Haven..
Fortunately for us the small town of Haven is filled with strange and interesting people, at least one of whom is endowed with a strange power - watch on for the denouement of episode 1!
Haven is not the new Supernatural (which might be a good thing, considering the last two seasons), but as things are now, it doesn't try to be..
I just don't like Nathan and Audrey's chemistry and wish that they never had those 2 characters fall in love.
I think he is a great character and almost want to keep watching the show just to see where his storyline goes.
I don't know though....I think Season 4 of Haven is a mistake so far and almost wish that it ended at season 3.By the way....why has no one mentioned the Colorado Kid yet?
All three characters have their own issues and each one has their own trouble.What makes this show interesting and continually entertaining for me is it doesn't rely on the overall mystery to keep things moving.
Sometimes those take multiple episodes but they don't wait a full season to tell you who is who, but they may withhold why or what a particular person is doing in Haven but they try and provide a little info.
During this time, we - the fandom - fought over who was the hero and who was better for Audrey, if Nathan or Duke, about who and how would end the troubles...
Some episodes were interesting, but the overall story arch takes wayyyyy too long to manifest and the direction it goes was just boring.The series is based on "the troubles", or inherited supernatural abilities that are difficult for people to control and often dangerous.
You hope against hope for Audrey to return to Nathan for good and instead they had her come back as a different personality with the lame excuse given by the character Vincent that she wanted her and Nathan to fall in love all over again.
If they keep the focus on the troubles, the supporting characters and Duke and avoid the disgusting, most annoying couple Audrey-Nathan i think the rest of the season will run smoothly.
Great plot concept, bad protagonists, interesting supporting characters and awful romance(audrey-nathan), thus a 7..