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‘See How They Run’ Review: An Agatha Christie Mystery Spoof

Unraveling a murder case backstage at a Christie play in 1950s London.

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By Teo Bugbee

The whodunit comedy “See How They Run” is set backstage in a 1950s London production of the long-running Agatha Christie play “The Mousetrap.” With a sprightly wit and an all-star cast to bring it to life, the movie manages to be a loving parody of theater gossips, postwar London and Christie’s murder mysteries all at once.

The story is an investigation of the murder of a Hollywood film director, Leo Köpernick (Adrien Brody). Leo had been hired to adapt the play, and he was killed in cold blood at the theater, making all the show’s players potential suspects and, they fear, potential future victims. There’s the disgruntled screenwriter, Mervyn (David Oyelowo), the sensitive actor Dickie (Harris Dickinson), and the hard-nosed theater owner (Ruth Wilson). Each has their motives, and an odd couple of detectives are assigned to untangle them. Inspector Stoppard (Sam Rockwell) is a jaded veteran, and his apprentice is a movie-loving rookie, Constable Stalker (Saoirse Ronan).

As a parody, the film is quick to show its appreciation for the genres being spoofed. One charming gag finds Stalker pausing her criminal analysis to praise the virtues of performers who are tangentially mentioned in the course of the investigation. “Rex Harrison, wonderful actor,” she reverently intones.

It’s an endearing bit because the same compliments could be passed along to this film’s decorated cast. The director Tom George gives his performers permission to approach their roles with cake-eating aplomb, and he complements their enthusiasm with campy direction, winking at the audience through title cards, split screens and paisleyed production design. The result is a plummy affair, a proper figgy pudding baked out of once-stale Scotland Yard tropes.

See How They Run Rated PG-13 for brief violence. Running time: 1 hour 38 minutes. In theaters.

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See How They Run Reviews

When talking about whodunits in his opening narration, Leo remarks: “if you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all.” But that doesn’t make a good whodunit any less enjoyable. And See How They Run is definitely enjoyable.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Jul 25, 2024

This might be the biggest surprise treat of the year. But let's not jump to conclusions.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Jul 5, 2024

It's hard to pull off a great whodunit. While See How They Run doesn't quite accomplish this,, it's at least a very fun whodunit that also plays with the style of the form and adds in elements to stay engaging...

Full Review | Original Score: B | Jul 3, 2024

Breezy, fun, and mostly very charming. It’s a little too long, a little too self-satisfied with how well it works, and it doesn’t know which punchline is enough. So it piles on everything in hopes that enough land, and that you’ll forget those that don’t.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Jul 3, 2024

[It] offers a well-mounted, sparkling murder-mystery supported by a glorious cast and peppered with fun ripostes.

Full Review | Oct 4, 2023

A light-hearted watch packed with charm and a stacked talented cast, we can forgive most of its mistakes because, yes, it is just that delightful.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Aug 18, 2023

Whatever may not work about the film is redressed by Saoirse Ronan's impeccable work here, and whatever does is only amplified by her presence. Without her, it's a fun bit of Sunday afternoon fluff. With her, it's a total must-see.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Aug 4, 2023

Saoirse Ronan sparks a very bright light onto the film, showcasing her polished and well-timed comedic chops; but as soon as she’s not on-screen, it falls flat quickly.

Full Review | Original Score: C- | Jul 29, 2023

Ultimately, See How They Run is a solid ride. To those who find the recent influx of meta genre flicks to be exhausting, See How They Run will not come across as charming. It will feel tedious in its insistence that the film is clever beyond imagination.

Full Review | Jul 24, 2023

While it’s no masterpiece, it’s a solid, fun, flashy, meta whodunit with a deliriously enjoyable soundtrack from Daniel Pemberton.

Full Review | Jul 23, 2023

So what we have here is a fizzy, enjoyable, modestly ambitious outing with some finely detailed period set design and visual style quirks that help keep us engaged.

Full Review | Jul 3, 2023

A pure Whodunit... that reintroduces us into the solvent narrative structure just like Knives Out (2019) did recently. [Full review in Spanish]

Full Review | Original Score: 7/10 | Dec 16, 2022

The ending payoff is as predictable as they come, and the movie’s lack of emotional weight ultimately works against it. In a year with several whodunnits, this one may, unfortunately, be the weakest.

Full Review | Original Score: 5/10 | Nov 30, 2022

Thanks to a cleverly constructed screenplay and a dynamic double act in Rockwell and Ronan... See How They Run is sure to both mystify and delight all whodunnit devotees.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Nov 30, 2022

Saoirse Ronan should take a bow. She steals this film and makes me smile.

Full Review | Nov 16, 2022

The type of whodunit that used to be described as a good yarn, back when you could say "simply a good time at the movies" and it wouldn’t sound cheap or unconvincing.

Full Review | Original Score: B | Nov 14, 2022

A whodunit with plenty of suspense where the focus is on the funny interactions of the detectives.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Nov 12, 2022

See How They Run never portrays itself as a great film in a similar genre, it tells a fan fiction spoof story with conviction and never deviates from its common objective of providing wholesome entertainment.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Nov 11, 2022

If you have a soft spot for period whodunits, then you may have some fun with this stylish, well-cast piece that mostly comes off as an appetizer for The Glass Onion.

Full Review | Nov 10, 2022