See How They Run - Whodunit?

Have you heard? This month, it’s your mission to spot The Cambridge Satchel Co.’s Trunks on the silver screen! Coming soon to cinemas on 9 September, the much-anticipated whodunit, See How They Run, follows a detective duo in a thrilling, tongue-in-cheek tale.

Sam Rockwell as Inspector Stoppard and Saoirse Ronan as Constable Stalker. Credit: Searchlight Pictures.

This week, we were honoured to be invited by Searchlight Pictures to view an exclusive preview screening of the film, followed by a day of detective activities at The Savoy Hotel in London. Now that we’re clued up on all things murder mystery, we’re delighted to share our film review with you (no spoilers!).

Transported back in time to 1950s London, we meet a laconic and morose Inspector Stoppard (Sam Rockwell) and an enthusiastic, if slightly naive, Constable Stalker (Saoirse Ronan). This unlikely team is brought together to solve a classic whodunit; after a performance of a smash-hit murder mystery play, an actor is found dead backstage, much to the shock of his fellow cast members. One murder often leads to a second, so the investigative duo crack on with the case.

The suspects. Credit: Searchlight Pictures.

The film’s lineup of suspects includes Dickie Attenborough (Harris Dickinson), Petula Spencer (Ruth Wilson), John Woolf (Reece Shearsmith), Sheila Sim (Pearl Chanda), Gio (Jacob Fortune-Lloyd), Mervyn Cocker-Norris (David Oyelowo) and the Mother (Ania Marson). Victim Leo Köpernick (Adrien Brody) is fantastic. Two actors were of particular note to me: fans of Fleabag will be pleased to see Sian Clifford playing Edana Romney, yet another hilariously tense and uptight character. Meanwhile, comedy fans will be delighted to meet Tim Key, known for playing Alan Partridge’s sidekick, in the role of Harrold Scott. He suits the role of the stern but comical commissioner so well.

The genius of this film lies in its satire and self-mockery. An age-old genre, the whodunit is known for its comforting predictability. A case is opened, the suspect is found guilty, and justice is restored. Using the mise-en-abyme of the play within a film, the production pokes fun at the tired and foreseeable nature of the genre’s conventions, before then turning it into an unforgettable plot filled with drama, unexpected twists and truly excellent puns. And you’ll have to let us know what you thought, but we personally didn’t suspect the killer at all, and the room was filled with laughter throughout!

Saoirse Ronan as Constable Stalker. Credit: Searchlight Pictures.

Make sure to go and see this refreshing and enthralling addition to the genre from 9 September 2022. And remember to tag #SeeHowTheyRun to share your thoughts, but shhh - don’t tell anyone whodunit!

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