Death from a Distance: A low-stakes planetarium mystery

Should you watch this?

If you like movies that feel like they were filmed in someone’s basement on a Sunday afternoon, you’ll probably find something to enjoy here. It’s short, it’s snappy, and it doesn't try to be anything more than a quick puzzle. If you need high-stakes drama or decent lighting, stay away. This is for the people who want to see a detective trip over his own feet while trying to be intimidating.

The whole thing kicks off in a planetarium. I spent half the time looking at the ceiling props instead of the actual actors. There’s something charming about how fake the stars look. You can tell they really wanted to make it feel like a fancy lecture, but the budget clearly said 'put a cardboard cutout of a telescope in the corner and call it a day.'

The bickering dynamic

The detective and the reporter act exactly how you expect them to act in every movie from this era. They lock horns. They yell. They repeat each other's sentences until you want to throw your popcorn at the screen. It reminded me a bit of the frantic energy in Many Happy Returns, where everyone is just loud for the sake of being loud.

There’s this one scene where they are questioning a witness, and the guy just stares at the wall for a full ten seconds before saying a word. I’m not sure if he forgot his lines or if he was just really in character. It felt weirdly long, honestly.

Odd little details

• The sound quality drops every time someone walks near a door.
• The reporter’s hat is definitely stealing the show in every scene she’s in.
• There is a moment where the detective drops his notebook, and you can see him almost lose his cool trying to pick it up.

It doesn't have the same grit as Woman in the Dark, but it’s got a weird pulse of its own. It’s not a masterpiece, and nobody involved seems to think it is either. Sometimes the movie just moves along, and you’re just happy it doesn't drag on for two hours.

Is it great? No. Does it kill an hour if you’re bored on a rainy Tuesday? Sure. The final reveal is so rushed that you might miss it if you blink, but that’s the charm of these old flicks. They don't care if you keep up. They just want to get to the credits before the film roll runs out. 🎞️