Murder on the Campus: A Quick, Dusty Whodunit

Should you bother?

If you have a soft spot for grainy, B-movie mysteries from the early thirties, then Murder on the Campus is a decent way to kill sixty minutes. It’s not exactly high art, and if you’re looking for a sharp, modern thriller, you’ll probably find the pacing here a bit like watching paint dry on an old radiator.

Honestly, it’s the kind of thing you put on while folding laundry or sketching. It doesn't demand your full attention, which is actually a relief.

The Campus Vibe

The whole thing feels like a stage play that got lost on its way to a soundstage. The acting is loud, almost like they’re shouting to the back row of a theater, and the 'college' setting is basically just two hallways and a library set that looks like it cost five bucks to build.

There’s this one scene where a character is supposed to be horrified by a discovery, but the delivery is so flat it felt like they were reading a grocery list. Classic.

• The boyfriend reporter guy is weirdly calm about his girlfriend being a murder suspect.
• The lighting in the library scenes is so dark you can barely tell who is talking.
• The dialogue moves at a pace that feels like it’s sprinting just to get to the next commercial break.

Compared to the rest

It definitely lacks the polish you see in something like La vacanza del diavolo, which feels like a different planet entirely. It’s way more stripped down, almost skeletal. It’s got a bit of that same nervous energy I remember from The Girl Who Came Back, where the plot just drags you along whether you want to go or not.

There’s no fat on this movie. It’s all plot, all the time, which sounds good until you realize the plot isn't exactly Sherlock Holmes level stuff. 🕵️‍♂️

Still, watching it, I kept thinking about how these old films had a way of just existing without trying to change the world. It’s just a story about a girl, a boy, and a killer. No massive themes, no long-winded monologues about life.

Just a guy trying to clear his girlfriend's name. Sometimes that’s enough, I guess. Though I still can't figure out why the police were so easily swayed by the initial evidence. Maybe the budget for extras didn't allow for a smarter police force.

If you're in the mood for something quick, cheap, and slightly dusty, give it a shot. Just don't expect it to haunt your dreams or anything. 📽️