When Knives Out gave the kiss of life to the underserved murder mystery genre back in 2019, there was hope that the whodunnit would make a triumphant return. Tom George's See How They Run is the first real attempt to test the waters before Glass Onion, Knives Out's sequel, releases later this year to prove whether the appetite still exists within the general moviegoing population. With a killer line-up of suspects and a delicious concept on hand, there's a mystery afoot that needs solving - is See How They Run worth your time?
It's the 1950s in the West End when an American film director is murdered, abruptly halting plans for the movie adaptation of the stage play he had been circling. Soon, world-weary Detective Stoppard and rookie Police Constable Stalker find themselves in the midst of their own Agatha Christie-style mystery. Starring Sam Rockwell and Saoirse Ronan alongside a supporting cast featuring Adrien Brody, Ruth Wilson, Harris Dickinson, David Oyelowo, Reece Shearsmith and Charlie Cooper, See How They Run offers some lovingly old-fashioned fun for those wishing to escape to the cinemas.
A fun romp that never takes itself too seriously, Tom George (in his directorial debut no less) has delivered in See How They Run a sophisticated and polished piece that Agatha herself would be proud of. With a quirkiness that keeps it fresh and exciting, operating as both a loving tribute to the whodunnit and a cheeky riff on the familiarity of the tropes that have become synonymous with the genre, it's clear that the filmmakers have a fondness for the murder mystery and the world they present that means everything appears to be executed with real reverence. Reminiscent of a Wes Anderson picture in its tone, stylings and editing, there's a breeziness that benefits the pacing; helped further by the brisk 98-minute runtime that means not a second goes to waste, it bounces from scene to scene, suspect to suspect, all scored wonderfully by Daniel Pemberton's playful score.
Mark Chappell's screenplay boasts some terrific dialogue, fantastic one-liners and a handful of meta jokes that never overstay their welcome, sharp and streamlined for the entire duration. If the actual storyline appears to be more of a means to an end, second fiddle to the visual stylings and genre exploration, it's rarely to the hindrance of your own enjoyment. And while this may not feel as interactive and solve-along as some may like their whodunnits, there's still a great deal of fun to be had as the film dashes towards the big, excellently-executed reveal.
Saoirse Ronan is undoubtedly the star of the show, delivering a spritely, immensely charming and frequently hilarious performance as the well-meaning if blundering rookie. It's the type of performance that excellently showcases an actor's range, presenting a fantastically comedic side that often goes underappreciated in the usually dramatic roles that catapult her into award season conversation. She spars well opposite Rockwell, whose performance appeared surprisingly subdued in places, and infuses a real sense of heart into the moments you perhaps least expect. She's the true standout, although a mention of Harris Dickinson's deliciously flamboyant work is deserved.
Sharp, if not as particularly smart as it could have been, See How They Run represents the one thing that films sometimes forget, or complicate themselves too much into being: genuinely good fun. Proof that cinema can still be about escapism, at a time where we certainly need it, See How They Run does not chase the need to be culturally relevant or thematically attune, and doesn't expect the world from you as a viewer -- it just wants you to laugh, have fun and leave with a smile. See How They Run is a rollicking good time at the pictures - run, don't walk.