Three Witnesses: A bit dusty, but it has its moments

Is it worth the time?

If you're the kind of person who enjoys a rainy Sunday afternoon with a mystery that doesn't try to reinvent the wheel, then yes, Three Witnesses is a perfectly fine way to kill an hour. It’s definitely for fans of old-school, stage-bound thrillers where the drama happens in offices with heavy wooden desks.

If you need fast cuts, modern pacing, or a plot that isn't essentially people standing around talking about legal contracts, you’re going to be bored to tears. This isn't exactly The Mad Parade in terms of energy, that's for sure. ☕

The vibe

There is a specific kind of dryness here. It feels like it was filmed in a library that hasn't been aired out since the war. The whole thing hinges on a takeover bid, which is about as exciting as watching paint dry on a brick wall, but the performances manage to keep the pulse from flatlining.

Ralph Truman is doing a lot of heavy lifting with his eyebrows alone. It’s almost funny how many times a character turns their back just to emphasize that they are hiding a secret. We get it, you’re guilty!

There’s a moment about halfway through—I think it’s in the office scene—where the lighting shifts, and for a split second, you realize just how small the set actually is. It feels claustrophobic in a way that I’m not sure was intentional. It reminded me a bit of the stuffy tension in Marriage for Convenience, though this is definitely a different beast.

Bits and pieces

• The dialogue is very sharp, almost too sharp, like it was written to be read out of a book rather than spoken.
• The costumes are incredibly stiff. You can practically hear the fabric creaking.
• I’m still not entirely sure why the one brother had to be so dramatic about the contracts.
• The ending lands with a thud, but a satisfying one.

I found myself drifting off during the exposition, but the final act pulls things together nicely. It's not trying to be a masterpiece. It just wants to tell a story about a bad guy and the people who caught him. Sometimes, that’s all you really need.

It’s not as snappy as The Yankee Clipper, but it has a certain charm if you give it a chance. Just don't ask too many questions about the legal logic. You'll be disappointed. 🕵️‍♂️