'Gracepoint' review: Fox remake has little grace

THE SHOW "Gracepoint"

WHEN|WHERE Thursday night at 9 on Fox/5

WHAT IT'S ABOUT A boy in a small seaside town (think Oregon) is found murdered. Emmett Carver (David Tennant), the surly chief of police, who is new to town, begins to question suspects -- including an old salt named Jack Reinhold (Nick Nolte), who knew the boy -- with the help of Det. Ellie Miller (Anna Gunn). Before long, the investigation uncovers other heretofore hidden scandals.

This is a remake of "Broadchurch," the 2013 BBC hit produced by Chris Chibnall, and which also starred Tennant. The original aired over eight episodes, while this one goes 10 -- the extra episodes have allowed producers to craft a different outcome (they say).

MY SAY To all those afraid Fox would lend its own special brand of baloney to a remake of "Broadchurch," please allow me to allay those fears. There's no monkey business anywhere -- no headless horseman from "Sleepy Hollow" to shake up the story, no Batman cameo to cross-promote "Gotham."

But that's about all I can allay: "Gracepoint" is less interesting, less compelling, less dramatic, less everything than the original. What happened? The same directors (James Strong, Euros Lyn) who lent "Broadchurch" that relentless sense of dread through something as benign as a deep Dorset sky, or a neatly appointed sitting room, are onboard. So is Chibnall and, of course, Tennant.

In fact, this remake may simply be too reverential, verging on compliant -- always checking over its shoulder to make certain it's a reasonable facsimile of the original. There's no sense of spontaneity, no sharp thrill of discovery (or fear). "Gracepoint" just plods along, right straight into the surging Pacific tide. Will viewers who never saw "Broadchurch" buy in? Maybe: If Headless does make that appearance.

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BOTTOM LINE A grim, gray slog, absent pleasure.

GRADE C