The ABC Murders (1992)

Too much of everything

Brilliant and touching

Admirable film.

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

Serial killer ABC plots their murders using an apparent infatuation of the alphabet to choose their victims. ABC opts to taunt Poirot by writing to him, goading him, bragging of their successes and the failings of the Police and authorities. With the assistance of The Police and the nearest and dearest of the victims Poirot sets about catching the clever and dangerous ABC.I think in all honesty it's this one that got me hooked in Poirot. It has all the elements necessary for an outstanding murder mystery. It looks wonderful, the 1930's are wonderfully recreated, lots of Art deco to admire. Some of the settings are lovely too, the scenes in Bexhill and by the promenade look beautiful. The story is really intriguing and intelligent.I love the music throughout, it works so well at building up the tension.Suchet made the role of Poirot his own, nobody else even comes close, he is fabulous in this one, particularly in the conclusion. The trio of Poirot, Japp and Hastings (and Miss Lemon when she's there) work brilliantly well together, but the plaudits in this one have to go to Donald Sumpter, he portrays Cust brilliantly, he's hugely troubled, guilt ridden, scared and his world is falling apart around him. A quick mention for Vivienne Burgess too, only a small role as Lady Clark, but she was excellent.It's wonderful from start to finish. It shows just how clever Poirot is, Christie's genius shines through, one of the best adaptations. 10/10

This is my favorite Hercule Poirot murder mystery. Rare Agatha Christie murder mystery where there seems to be a serial killer. Hercule Poirot receives letters from the killer taunting him about his inability to prevent the crimes even after being warned even to the extent of being told in which city the murder would occur. One letter is sent to the wrong address. Inspector Japp believes it is because the killer was drinking whiskey and wrote the name of the maker of the whiskey for Hercule Poirot's address. There is also a funny subplot dealing with a large lizard that Capt. Hasting had killed in Argentina on the Orinoco River and has been preserved. There is also a funny scene with Capt. Hastings washing dishes and Hercule Poirot drying the dishes. Hercule Poirot makes Capt. Hsstings re-wash saucers several times before they meet his satisfaction.

I love episodes like Sad Cypress, Five Little Pigs and Peril At End House, but The ABC Murders deserves to be up there with the best of them. It was a near-perfect, top notch and thrilling episode. There are one or two slow moments, and before I realised that there was half an hour left I had the impression as I haven't read the book that I had been told too much, but these are the only problems I had with it. The plot is complicated with plenty of surprises, but is well constructed and well explained. The adaptation looks splendid, not in a sumptuous visual style like say Sad Cypress but in a dark haunting visual style like something like Hickory Dickory Dock. The music is enough to make the hairs stand up on your neck, it certainly did that to mine. The acting from all involved is exceptional, whilst David Suchet gives an impeccable performance as always as Poirot, it is Donald Sumpter who walks away with the acting honours in one of the best supporting performances in the history of the Poirot run. It is considered as one of Suchet's favourite Poirots, and you know what, it is easy to see why. It is superb. 9/10 Bethany Cox

The book is a good one and it has been well dramatized here. Donald Sumpter is excellent as the travelling salesman, Cust.It's unlike other Christies in that most of the victims are not wealthy or aristocratic. The scenes in the Andover shop and at Bexhill are (perhaps unintentionally) touching. The deaths are really sad -- which is almost never the case in a Christie book, where murder is only a chance for an interesting puzzle and the victim is quite often a nasty tyrant whom almost everyone wants dead. When Hastings is moved by the scene in Andover, Poirot brushes his comments aside, saying they must not succumb to sentimentality.Entertaining. Recommended.