Invitation to a Murder Digital Review

3 star pretty but predictable whodunnit.

Invitation to a Murder is a 2024 American period murder mystery thriller film. It is written by Gérard Miller, Brian O’Donnell and Jerome Reygner-Kalfonand directed by Stephen Shimek (Nocturne, Dudes and Dragons).

It is available on UK Digital Platforms from 30th December 2024, courtesy of Plaion Pictures.

“You’re surrounded by flowers. You spend your days surrounded by beauty and all you can think about are your morbid little stories.”

It’s 1934 and Miranda Greene (Mischa Barton – Papa, The Sixth Sense) is a frumpy and unsatisfied young florist who spends her days reading the works of Agatha Christie and dreaming of solving her own mysteries. Her opportunity arises one day when she receives a letter in the post from reclusive billionaire Lord Findley inviting her to spend some time on a remote island. Travel arrangements are included (one way) and more details to follow.

Spying an adventure, she boards the train and meets the other recipients of the letters. They are lawyer Laurence Kane (Seamus Dever – Castle (TV Series), American journalist Donald Walker (Chris Browning – Bright, The Last Rampage), Doctor Phillip Armstrong (Giles Matthey – The Duel, Submerged), young spanish woman Carmen Blanco (Bianca A. Santos – Strange Darling, Ouija) and Chinese woman Lu Wang (Grace Lynn Kung – Green Snake, The Call).

They are met off the train by Gordon (James Urbaniak – Oppenheimer, American Splendor), valet to Lord Findley, who informs them that he is delayed and will meet them tomorrow. They are taken to a large mansion house on the island where they meet the staff, Sean (Alex Hyde-White – Pretty Woman, Nope) the butler and Katherine (Amy Sloan – 88, The Song of Names) the maid. They start to get to know each other, but when one of them is found murdered, everyone begins to question each others motives. Can Miranda solve this mystery before it’s too late?

“Why don’t we toast to new friends. Whatever the reason and wherever the location, we’re all here together. In this world, it’s a small miracle.”

Invitation to a Murder is a good idea for a story and starts out feeling as though it will be a satisfying watch. Unfortunately, there are a number of issues, the biggest of which is how unlikeable Miranda is, there’s no real explanation of her detective skills except that she reads murder mysteries and she comes across as a bit of a know-it-all.

There are also a baffling array of accents at play, which seem to change at a moments notice, making it impossible to work out where this is supposed to be set. Aside from that, the acting is enthusiastic if not brilliant and they do the best they can with a slightly under par script. There are several interesting threads that are introduced and then seemingly forgotten, as well as some very unfeasible decision making, odd character interactions and confusing plot.

What does make this stand out are the stunning locations and excellent cinematography, this really is very nice to look at. Perhaps with this experience behind them the sequels will be able live up better to the mystery novels to which they are paying homage.

“I’ll play next. One, I’m a reporter for The Daily Truth. Two, my mother’s dead. Three, I’ve never killed a man before. Three’s a lie, game over. Asking the wrong questions can get you hurt.”