The Confession

The Confession, which began its life as a made-for-Internet offering in March 2011 on Hulu and is now arriving on DVD, consists of 10 short episodes. The series takes place in a church confessional booth, where an unnamed hit man (Kiefer Sutherland) tells a priest (John Hurt) that he is responsible for killing many people, and that his next victim will die that night unless the priest agrees to hear his confession. This setup leads to flashbacks detailing the story behind each slaying, with the two men engaging in an intensive debate about the moral ramifications of the assassin's career. Although The Confession features an interesting premise, the stars seem to be on autopilot as their characters hash out well-worn ideas and concerns about life and death. To its credit, however, the brief series boasts handsome production design, with writer-director Brad Mirman achieving a visual style that is eons removed from the public access–level look of many Internet series. DVD extras include four previously unseen episodes, cast and crew interviews, and behind-the-scenes footage. An optional purchase. (P. Hall)