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5.9/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 5.9/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Lord Edgware Dies remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you're a sucker for 1930s British crime stuff, sure. It’s got that specific, dry charm that makes you want to curl up with a cup of tea, but don't expect a masterpiece. If you get bored by people standing in drawing rooms talking about train schedules for hours, stay away. This isn't exactly The Two Orphans in terms of emotional gut-punches.
The whole thing feels like it was filmed on a shoestring budget in someone's basement, but in a way that’s almost endearing. The lighting is harsh, and some of the extras look like they’d rather be literally anywhere else. It reminded me a bit of the frantic energy in Alice's Monkey Business, though obviously a different beast entirely.
Austin Trevor plays Poirot, and he’s... well, he’s definitely a guy playing a detective. He lacks that sharp, annoying perfection we usually see in the later, big-budget adaptations. He’s a bit more subdued, almost like he’s tired of the whole murder business. It’s kind of refreshing, honestly. No massive mustache twirling here.
There’s a moment where he’s interrogating someone, and the actor behind him is clearly trying not to giggle. I watched it three times. It’s the small, messy stuff that makes these old films feel alive, you know? It feels more like a real document of a day on set than a polished piece of cinema.
It doesn't have the grand scope of West of Zanzibar, and it certainly doesn't try to be profound. It just exists. It’s a puzzle box with a few missing pieces, but you still want to see how it clicks together at the end. Just don't think about the plot holes too hard or the whole thing might just collapse like a house of cards. 🕵️♂️
I left the movie feeling like I'd just spent an hour and a half at a community theater production. It’s not great, it’s not terrible, it’s just there. And sometimes, that’s actually enough.
