The Murder at Road Hill House (2011)

So much average

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.

This applies to all 4 of the Whicher movies. They are full of well realized characters acting in a way which is reasonably consistent with what I know of the period. The mysteries are clever and the solutions are, for the most part, very satisfying. If you like this sort of program you will like this one. If you don't, give this one a try.

I'm a big fan of mystery series (Morse, Endeavour, etc.), so I was curious to view the "Roadhill" film and see what Mr. Whicher was all about. I read about the series and about the real Mr. Which on Google before I watched this first episode. What a wonderful experience! The story takes a while to unfold, but it does in such a way that by the end you feel like you understand why Mr. Whicher conducted the investigation the way he did. Paddy Considine is perfectly cast as Mr. Whicher. His face expresses multiple emotions, and unlike most modern detectives, he generally keeps his cool and behaves with decorum and decency to the innocent and guilty alike. The story unfolds like the layers of an onion constantly unfolding new bits of information about the characters involved in the case. The costumes and sets are fabulous and the cast is very believable. If you want action and adventure this is not your show. However, if you want to enjoy a fascinating story that is very well acted this is a film for you. After watching this first episode I watched the other three that are available. I wish that the BBC had produced more episodes in this marvelous series.

I did not read the book - so went into this first episode devoid of expectations and was very pleasantly surprised. I was also a bit surprised by what seemed to be a lower than expected rating for this title on IMDB - this show, in my opinion, was a very unique and welcome addition to like Whodunits and Murder mysteries - the acting is very well done, casting fantastic, costume and set design magnificent, and the storyline is doled out in such a way as to pull you along, unwary to the end, when the fish is landed and the lines tied up. No hint of low budget here, and some fine camera work to boot. As a period piece - I find it solid and extremely absorbing - I have thus far seen 3 of the 4 shows and have been enthralled. Mr Whicher is not to be confused with Sherlock Holmes - he is a very genuine and fallible human being - he has a knack for the occupation and a natural talent for it - plus his own demons that drive him on. I think it makes for a great watch - can't help but hope that another installment may be on the horizon. Such a shame that there were only 4 episodes made.

I'm surprised by the generally negative reviews for this production. Some reviewers seem to want the writers to re-write history to replicate an Agatha Christie story. The fact is, this story was based on reality, not on Christie's tropes and formulas. The fact is, sometimes crimes work out as this one did, with an unsatisfying ending. The detective doesn't call all the suspects to a meeting where he reveals his genius at deduction, or cause the suspect to reveal him/herself in dramatic fashion.I found this well acted and well written. Not great, but quite good, and well worth the watching. Maybe if Captain Hastings' grandfather had showed up for comic relief, more people would have liked it. Personally, I found the straight drama well done and satisfying.