The whodunnit subgenre of film has recently been having a resurgence, kicking off with 'Murder on the Orient Express' in 2017 but really getting reinvented and remastered in 2019 with the instant classic 'Knives Out'. The genre often serves as an easy way to get a bunch of A-listers together and just go balls-to-the-wall fun and crazy. It also serves as an easy hook for as audiences to piece together who murdered the victim.
'See How They Run' follows Inspector Stoppard (Sam Rockwell, 'Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri', 'Jojo Rabbit') and Constable Stalker (Saoirse Ronan, 'Little Women', The French Dispatch') investigating Leo Köpernick's (Adrien Brody, 'The Grand Budapest Hotel', 'Bullet Head') murder. At the 100th performance of Agatha Christie's (Shirley Henderson, 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets', 'Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker') 'The Mousetrap' the American director is murdered, while adapting the play for the big screen. Everyone becomes a suspect, from film producer John Woolf (Reece Shearsmith, 'Venom: Let There Be Carnage', 'The World's End') and his wife Edana Romney (Sian Clifford, TV's 'Fleabag', '
'SEE HOW THEY RUN' TRAILER
The Duke'), the show's stars Sheila Sim (Pearl Chanda, TV's 'War of the World') and Richard Attenborough (Harris Dickinson, 'Where the Crawdads Sing', 'The King's Man'), the play's producer Petula Spencer (Ruth Wilson, 'Saving Mr. Banks', 'The Little Stranger') and screenwriter Mervyn Cocker-Norris (David Oyelowo, 'Selma', 'Chaos Walking'). The case is on to find out who killed Köpernick and if the play will ever get adapted to screen.
Director Tom George (in his feature debut), backed with a fantastic cast, really injects a lot of charm into the film. While it doesn't offer much new to the genre, it is incredibly slick to look at and doesn't overstay its welcome. The mystery isn't as big a draw here; it's really the 1950s aesthetic that takes the spotlight, and it's beautiful to immerse yourself in.
The 1950s aesthetic takes the spotlight, and it's beautiful to immerse yourself in.
As always, Ronan is a delight and completely steals the show in every scene she is in. Her bubbly personality is infectious, and the ticket price is worth it for her performance alone.
'See How They Run' isn't genre-defying, but it's still a delightful time for fans of the mystery genre. Soak in the charm and enjoy another knockout Saoirse Ronan performance.