‘See How They Run’ Is a Delectably Layered Whodunit Romp
Theater! Murder! Humor! What more can an audience ask from a delightfully charming, splendidly edited, and supremely fun romp like See How They Run. Mark Chappell’s script delivers on dry, meticulously meta wit, while Tom George’s direction slowly unravels the upbeat murder mystery with clever editing, leaning fully into the theatrical nature of the case.
At the reception for the 100th performance of Agatha Christie’s long-running Mousetrap, a cast of suspicious thespians are met with scrutiny when one of their own is found murdered and pointedly staged on the… stage. Anyone could be the murderer—tensions have been rising to a fever pitch ever since the hotshot Leo Köpenick (Adrian Brody) arrived to transform the staged production into a major motion picture.
Within the first fifteen minutes, George cleverley sets the stage (pun intended) for a topsy-turvy investigation by the astute Constable Stalker (Saoirse Ronan) and her disinterested partner Inspector Stoppard (Sam Rockwell). Their investigation leads them down various rabbit holes—infidelity, conflict, jealousy, and liquor all pave the way for potential motive. But the question is: will Stalker and Stoppard unravel the mystery before it’s too late?
With Ronan (and Brody) at the forefront of George’s delectable sponge cake of a mystery—with layers of cake and jam neatly stacked—some might be tempted to compare See How They Run to Wes Anderson’s iconic storytelling style. There is a certain jaunty similarity—a peculiar cast of characters, stylish wardrobes, and a distinct playful editing style that doesn’t necessarily dissuade those comparisons. If anything, George has delivered a more palatable play at the idiosyncratic Anderson aesthetic. It’s in the same vein as Rian Johnson’s brilliantly fun whodunit Knives Out, without any of the tension-fueled energy of a film like Graham Moore’s The Outfit.
Courtesy of Searchlight Picutres
Heeding Inspector Stoppard’s cheeky warning about maintaining the secrets of See How They Run, I’ll shy away from really getting into the nitty-gritty of the film—though meta-level parallels of the investigation are truly indelible. Beyond Brody, Ronan, and Rockwell, the film stars a real who’s who of familiar faces, including David Oyelowo as Mervyn Cocker-Norris, the screenwriter eager to make some major changes to Mousetrap for the silver screen, the dapper Harris Dickinson as Richard Attenborough (yes, that Richard Attenborough who really did star in Mousetrap) alongside Pearl Chanda as the play’s leading lady Sheila Sim (who would later marry Attenborough), Reece Shearsmith as the philandering producer John Woolf, with Sian Clifford as his suspicious wife Edana Romney and Pippa Bennett-Warner as his mistress Ann Saville, Ruth Wilson as Petula Spencer who brokered the Mousetrap’s adaptation deal for Agatha Christie, and least, but certainly not least, Charlie Cooper as Dennis the Usher. Because there’s no show business without a good usher in the house.
George has a truly keen eye for capitalizing on the spaces that his characters occupy. One scene towards the latter half of the film beautifully utilizes the maze-like corridors that frequent theatregoers are familiar with. Winding staircases to the balconies, rear exits, and a myriad of doors help to strengthen the intrigue of the murder that’s afoot. But don’t jump to conclusions! This a smart whodunit that only becomes apparent in retrospect—as most mysteries are wont to do.
Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures
There are some areas where I wish Chappell’s script had gone the extra step to really explore the human angle of the film, particularly with its pair of intrepid investigators. Inspector Stoppard is very much the stereotypical copper with a bum leg from the war who relies on the liquor a little too much, any depth should be credited to Rockwell, rather than the script. He pushes the character in small ways, conveying the character through looks and expressions that forces you to read between the lines. It’s not particularly egregious, considering most whodunits—especially those clocking in at a neat 90 minutes—rely heavily on stereotypes to carry the burden of brevity. The lacking character details aren’t necessarily a detractor, but rather something I would have liked to see more of. Especially when so much of the film’s script highlights the intersection between art and truth. I wanted to see all of the characters’ truths, no matter how flawed.
See How They Run never strays from its throughline, delivering a very concise and exceptionally fun mystery that is infused with fun flashbacks, engaging editing, and colorful aesthetics to keep audiences fully invested. For a feature directorial debut, George has definitely positioned himself as a director to keep an eye on. His work in television has provided him with the deft ability to focus on the most important aspects of the story, maintain the interest of the audience, and deliver a fun escape. Who would want to miss out on a fun romp through 1950s London with Saoirse Ronan and Sam Rockwell as their guides?
Final Verdict: A-
See How They Run is in theaters on September 16.
