Whodunits with large groups of unlikable characters leave me rather cold, but writer-director Rian Johnson has found a way to sweeten the pot with some very clever plotting. The story is consistently surprising, beautifully edited and builds very strongly in its second half to a genuinely suspenseful and satisfying conclusion.

Rian Johnson’s mystery begins with the suicide death of patriarch Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer). Yes, suicide. But the presence of noted investigator Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) the following week throws the Thrombey clan into confusion, because someone has engaged him to find out who killed the mystery writer. Everyone in the family and house is suspect, and the reading of the will brings out the worst in all of them.

As in most mysteries, nothing can be taken at face value, and we follow Blanc as he tries to separate the lies from the truth. An unusual ally helps him through the first half, and then everything turns sideways in the second half, as Blanc finally flames into heady action. The first half dragged somewhat for me, but the second half is dynamite, with revelation upon revelation and characters who finally come clean.

Agatha Christie this isn’t, but it is a direct descendant, filled to the brim with eccentric characters, solid performances, sweet plot twists and one specific character who is clever enough to give Blanc a run for his money. Will you guess the guilty party? I didn’t. That doesn’t matter so much; the twisted journey is worth the price of admission. ☆ ☆ ☆. 13 January 2020.