More Murder Mysteries To Sink Your Teeth Into
Another classic nursery mystery film has been remade and in grand fashion. The newest entrant on the list is Death on the Nile. Starring Gal Gadot, Kenneth Branagh, Armie Hammer, and Annette Bening, the story runs around another Hercule Poirot deduction masterclass.
The detective is a legendary figure in the world of private investigations, most would say on equal footing with Sherlock Holmes. In terms of fictional characters, Poirot has hardly any competition when it comes to brevity and showmanship.
If the last Poirot film in the recent past was set on a train, Death on the Nile does one better and takes place on a streamer. Poirot’s vacation once again turns murderous. Although lacking any surprises owing to its source material, the film is made quite well.
The intrigue is sharp and immersive for most parts. The anticipation of seeing the brilliant cast in the single room setting never wears off. Keeping in mind how good and entertaining it was, we have decided to come up with a list of 10 movies like Death on the Nile which are must watch if you loved it. Happy reading!
Knives Out (2019)
Knives Out is one of those murder mysteries that offers a fresh perspective on genre storytelling. Not only is the crime given up in the initial minutes of the film, but the criminal was also revealed.
Ana de Armas plays the protagonist who commits the crime and does a great job of looking the part. Knives Out play into familiar themes of family dysfunctionality and feuds that give birth to an insatiable need to want everything.
Like Death on the Nile, Knives Out is majorly restricted to a single setting, involves a murder wherein all associated embers are suspects and features a genius detective, who is up for the challenge.
Murder on the Orient Express (1974)
The conundrum here was to choose between two well-made films on the same subject matter. Minor storytelling differences separate the two films, but we have decided to go with the original. Just to be clear, the determining factor here was Albert Finney.
As the name suggests, Murder on the Orient Express revolves around a murder on a train called the Orient Express. This is a classic whodunnit that keeps the mystery going so beautifully, there’s hardly a dull moment in the entire setup. The single setting and it being a Poirot adventure, make it comparable to Death on the Nile.
Clue (1985)
The best comedy among all entrants in the list is found in Clue. Its narration is the lightest in terms of gravity and providing laughs. Without too much plot, Clue slyly gives you clues along the way to make sense of what is going on.
Like Death on the Nile, Clue shares a love for belonging to the same universe of an eclectic and adversarial group of strangers solving a murder mystery, while at the same time protecting their own name.
This has gained a cult following for its innovative execution and truly theatrical characters. Clue makes no secrets of its ambitions to be absolutely non-serious about itself, but does so with such a sound sense of confidence, that you can’t help but feel the same way.
Rope (1948)
A list of murder mysteries without the mention of Alfred Hitchcock would be a farce. The original creator of the genre in Hollywood’s glorious celluloid history always kept his methods simple and effective. Rope’s premise follows the tradition. But it is the detailing and coming together of the intelligence of his characters that sets it apart from other entrants on the list.
Commonalities like a single setting and murder are a given. Beyond this, Rope also becomes a satisfying probe into the deceptive nature of human existence. Hitchcock’s abstractness is well versed with a quaint sense of restraint and respect. Within those contours, he delivers a resounding screenplay that is at once explosive and delicate.
Mystery Team (2009)
The high school charm has never gotten anyone by. We’re all equally struck by it in such unimaginable proportions that you’d think it is some kind of rocket science. The creative minds behind the movie have extended what should have been a brief comedy sketch into a full-blown movie. The sell is a hard one but well worth the time when you consider how much fun the characters and storytelling are.
Its meta element is pivotal in making the joke funny. The underlying plot is derivative and loses steam but the execution is so fascinating it is hard to give up on them. When you feel it is going towards a coming of age tangent, it does the exact opposite and still makes the viewer a part of a pseudo transformational journey.
Mystery Team seems to be caught in the times that its setting takes place. The Derrick comedy group is a bit lax in attending to the antiquity and dated skeleton of its story. Nonetheless, it is enjoyable and humorous and will be a great addition to the watchlist.
Ready or Not (2019)
Ready or Not offers a refreshing mix of yesteryear themes that have had umpteen iterations. While the eventual explanation is cheesy, to say the least and a bit lazy, the storytelling is so strong that it cannot be overlooked.
Samara Weaving is an impressive lead, seamlessly changing gears like the story. Under able direction, she creates a remarkable character sketch reminiscent of strong feminist undertones found in older films. The tasteful violence lends an alluring aesthetic to the overall visual appeal. If you liked Death on the Nile and hoped for a more impactful plot with a more relatable lead, ready or Not is for you!
Brick (2005)
Rian Johnson’s entire filmography could feature here or even make for a separate list altogether. Such is the impact of his films on the genre in a modern context, the elite has cited him as an inspiration.
Brick blends various palatable tropes like teen romance, whodunnit, and exposing the criminal underbelly of a city into one compelling narrative. Like Death on the Nile, Brick’s fortunes are dependent on how intricate can it make the inevitable. Johnson makes great use of his large cast to keep misdirecting audiences at will.
Every time you feel you’re nearer to cracking the code, there’s a defiant Johnson throwing you off. Gordon Levitt is a charming leading man. His character serves as the perfect guiding light for the viewer to navigate Brick’s indifferent and harsh world.
Bad Times at El Royale (2018)
The first half of Bad Times at El Royale could have been a great short film on its own. The haunting setup is not matched by the latter half, which is only relatively weaker. Like Death on the Nile, the film is set up at a hotel of the titular name and harbors a larger conspiracy that no one sees coming.
Dakota Johnson is a strong leader of the group, although the ensemble has equitable screen time. The gliding camera makes the cinematography the chief attraction. It is arguably the best on this list. Not to undermine other elements, but this enhances the quality so much. Bad Times at the El Royale is fiercely aggressive in carving out a new niche for itself. The groundwork is stunning and engaging. You won’t have a dull moment here!
Gosford Park (2001)
Robert Altman has a knack for managing big casts in a constrained setting that few filmmakers have. His elaborate descriptive style is often a function of long, observant shots that introduce us to his world and a prose-like backstory to the immediate motivations.
You don’t find such techniques used anymore in mainstream commerce of cinema that often. It is another reason for this classic to be preserved in memory. Gosford Park features on the list for having the exact same story elements as Death on the Nile. Despite the likeness, Altman’s command over his craft ensures that you take away something personal and disturbing from the film.
The Hateful Eight (2015)
Quentin Tarantino is a master of his craft. His ingenious mechanics to create memorable characters and pop culture legends are almost unmatched. The Hateful Eight, by his standards, is probably the quietest.
Unlike his natural style, it is more of a slow burn that is carefully put together and hardly runs ragged. All other Tarantino films have erred on the side of keeping on track to develop characters and the story.
The Hateful Eight also has a non-linear chain of events but the explanation starts at the very end. The colorful inhabitants of his universe in a single room make for a deep dive into human nature, morals of justice, and the corruptness of civilization.
If this was too much, attention is still afforded to a dynamic murder mystery that is forever flowing.
So there we have it, our 10 Movie picks to keep you busy after watching Death on the Nile!
What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!
I would add ‘An Inspector Calls” to this list. A great unexpected twist on a “murder” mystery.