See How They Run

Set in London’s West End in the 1950s, the much anticipated See How They Run revolves around a murder mystery being investigated by Inspector Stoppard (Sam Rockwell) and the less experienced, but highly diligent Constable Stalker (Saoirse Ronan). A lavish party takes place as the theatre production of The Mousetrap reaches its 100^th performance and is set to reach even greater heights with a movie deal, but it seems that someone has a different plan. A baffling murder case ensues, and the leading duo find themselves involved with more suspects than they bargained for. 

See How They Run jeers at the predictable trajectory of murder mysteries and then follows the very same pattern it mocks with a tongue-in-cheek attitude. The tale-within-a-tale trope reaches dizzying proportions as the lines blur between different layers of storytelling. There is an evident love for the whodunnit genre, with director Tom George essentially orchestrating an ode to the worlds of theatre, filmmaking and crime fiction. The use of unusual angles and a split screen view reveal different perspectives and draw the audience into a game where they are witnesses and spies themselves, being shown potentially telling details and reactions as they unfold. 

Perhaps the movie will not be remembered as a masterpiece, but it’s fun, quirky, full of style and aesthetically charming. It also boasts a strong cast alongside Rockwell and Ronan, including Adrien Brody, David Oleyowo, Ruth Wilson and Harris Dickinson, who keep the entertainment alive in every scene. Although it doesn’t present anything new or original, the stylishness and the comedic tone of the film are the qualities that make it a little gem that’s undeniably a pleasure to watch. 

Mersa Auda

See How They Run is released nationwide on 9^th September 2022.

Watch the trailer for See How They Run here: