- Release year: 2023
- Director: Stephen Shimek.
- Producers: Jerome Reygner-Kalfon, Sebastien Semon, and Brian Vilim.
- Screenplay by: Brian O’Donnell, Jerome Reygner-Kalfon, and Sebastien Semon.
- Cinematography by: Brian Vilim.
- Music by: Christian Davis.
Synopsis: a florist is invited by a mysterious magnate to spend the weekend on his island.
Shotgun Commentary: a cosy mystery for an afternoon of hot chocolate and blankets.
Review
Invitation to a Murder is one of those films whose title already attracts its target audience, leaving no room for confusion as to what it is you are about to watch. This straightforwardness accompanies the film throughout its whole duration and makes it an incredibly satisfying watch.
A winning protagonist
The feature follows Miranda Green (Mischa Barton), a British florist and super fan of Agatha Christie with a prodigious memory. Any information that enters her brain through her five senses is forever stored in it, making her a perfect detective.
Sadly, as a woman in the interwar era, her options in the police force are ridiculously limited, and, rather than making tea for the male police force whilst in a police uniform, she spends her time selling flowers and dreaming about solving murders. One day, a man leaves an invitation for a weekend trip at her door. Despite coming from a complete stranger, curiosity overrides her self-preservation, and she decides to attend.
Upon arrival on the train that is to take her to a boat to reach her destination, she meets the other guests, two women and three men with apparently nothing in common other than the invitation itself. Strange things happen when they finally arrive at their host’s mansion on his private island. Events that lead to the murder, intrigue, and a whole lot of reluctant fun for Green, who’s equal parts horrified and excited to solve the murder.
The right solution for the right problem
The story itself is delightful. There are a couple of painfully obvious turns, but the overall mystery is so much fun to follow. It is so classic that it reminds of Murder by Death (1976). In fact, there are a few details that feel like direct shoutouts to the comedy classic. There is nothing as comforting as a good murder mystery in an isolated but luxurious manor or castle, and this feature scratches that particular itch divinely.
As mentioned in other reviews, a murder mystery is only as good as its main investigator. Whether that be a policeman, detective, or a nosy old lady like Mrs Marple, the protagonist must be charming for the murder mystery to be successful. Luckily for Invitation to a Murder, Green is instantly likeable.
She does not pretend to be who she is not. She is perfectly comfortable with her limitations, going through life being unapologetically her. Simple as this description might be, it is still refreshing to see female characters that do not feel the need to go through life apologising for their success or decisions. In that sense, Green is very much a young version of Mrs Marple. Barton plays the role perfectly, with a carefree attitude and eyes that shine with intelligence.
Final notes
The rest of the cast does not fall too far behind, with some familiar faces like James Urbaniak, Seamus Denver, and Chris Browning. All the characters are interesting in their own right, and even the pointless romantic subplot ends up being worth it once the truth is revealed.
As a Spanish reviewer, it does stink a little to see yet another non-Spanish actress play a Spanish woman, considering the immense amount of Spanish talent that could have been hired. Still, Bianca A. Santos does a decent job with her portrayal of Carmen Blanco, so much so that she comes close to deceiving even a native Spanish ear.
All in all, Invitation to a Murder is a lovely watch. It is a soothing narrative with no loose ends and the type of perfect structure that gives your mind a sigh of relaxation. It works perfectly well as the first of hopefully many adventures of Miranda Green.
Advice to take from this movie:
- Beware of invitations of mysterious origin.
- If you hear a dog barking, chances are, there is a dog barking.
- Don’t waste your life waiting for a man to come save you.
What’s your take? Have you watched Invitation to a Murder? Don’t hesitate to let me know your thoughts in the comments section below, or leave a message on my contact page! For more reviews and cinema-related articles, check out the rest of my blog! 😀