In recent years, the "cozy detective" genre has been experiencing a real renaissance, largely due to the success of the film Knives Out. Stories where sharp wit and charm defeat evil, and the investigation of murders resembles solving an elegant puzzle, have found their grateful audience. In this context, the film adaptation of Richard Osman's bestseller The Thursday Murder Club (2020) was only a matter of time. The result is a sweet, infinitely charming and impeccably acted film, which, however, illustrates all the difficulties of transferring a multi-layered book story to the screen, where the charm of the characters is forced to compensate for the haste of the script.
| Name | The Thursday Murder Club |
| Genre | detective, comedy |
| Director | Chris Columbus |
| Cast | Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley, Celia Imrie, Jonathan Pryce, David Tennant, Tom Ellis, Naomi Ackie and others |
| Studios | Amblin Entertainment, Netflix |
| Timing | 1 hour 58 minutes |
| Year | 2025 |
| Link | IMDb |
Life in an elite retirement home is calm and measured. But not for everyone. Four of its residents – former spy Elizabeth, passionate ex-union leader Ron, meticulous psychiatrist Ibrahim and former nurse Joyce – gather every Thursday for an unusual hobby: investigating old, unsolved murders. But when a real murder occurs on the doorstep of their own home, the club decides it would be a sin not to intervene. Thus begins their own game, to the surprise and annoyance of the local police.
One of the main elements of the film that should interest the casual viewer is its main characters and the legendary actors who play them. Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley and Celia Imrie are a dream cast, and their interaction is a compelling reason to watch this film after watching the trailer. The chemistry between them is so organic, and the dialogue, full of subtle British humor, is so witty that you can watch it endlessly.
Mirren is brilliant as the manipulative leader Elizabeth, Brosnan exudes charisma as the hot-tempered Ron, Kingsley adds a touching vulnerability to Ibrahim, and Imrie as Joyce is the perfect embodiment of quiet observation. It is this quartet that is the solid foundation that keeps the entire plot structure from falling apart.
Atmospherically, the film fully meets expectations. Director Chris Columbus – the creator of the first two parts of the Harry Potter film adaptation and the first Home Alone films, for a moment - creates an idealized, almost fairy-tale image of the English province. Picturesque landscapes, warm interiors, tea and cakes - all this works to create a feeling of comfort and coziness, even when the details of brutal crimes are discussed on the screen. The film looks like a big-budget Sunday drama from the BBC, which will be an advantage for many viewers. It does not try to be gloomy or realistic. Its goal is to calm and entertain, and it copes with this task.
However, behind this charming facade lie significant problems. Chief among them is the script, which tries to squeeze the book’s complex, multi-layered plot into two hours of screen time. As a result, the pace of the narrative becomes uneven and rushed. The investigation rushes forward, jumping from one clue to the next, leaving neither the characters nor the audience time for real deduction. Many of the secondary characters, even those played by stars like David Tennant, Jonathan Pryce, or Tom Ellis, are reduced to functional cameos, existing only to move the plot forward one step.
This rush also creates a tonal imbalance. The film is torn between light comedy, a confusing detective story, and attempts to talk about serious things like old age, loneliness, and dementia. In the book, these themes are organically woven together, but on screen the transitions between them often seem abrupt and awkward. The frivolous tone that dominates the film sometimes makes it difficult to take the dramatic moments seriously, and the gloomy reality of the nursing home is discordant with the overall "sweet" atmosphere.
The Thursday Murder Club is a pleasant, witty, but shallow film that relies almost entirely on the magic of its cast. It's an adaptation that successfully captures the charm of its characters but loses the narrative coherence and detective intrigue of the original source. The film is an ideal choice for a quiet evening when you want to watch something light and unobtrusive in the company of famous actors. However, it is unlikely to leave a lasting impression or enter the pantheon of outstanding detective films.