Crooked House

Movie review by Jeffrey Anderson, Common Sense Media
Crooked House Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 13+

Gorgeous but bland, oddly paced Agatha Christie mystery.

PG-13 2017 115 minutes
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Parents say

age 13+

Based on 3 reviews

Kids say

age 13+

Based on 3 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Crooked House is a murder mystery based on an Agatha Christie novel. But it doesn't feature one of her iconic detective characters, and, despite a good cast, the characters are thin and don't generate much suspense or interest. A pivotal plot point is a little on the disturbing side for younger viewers. There are two murders: One is via injection, and the other body is shown lying on the floor. A car explodes, guns are shown, shots are fired, and a little girl falls (off screen) from a tree house. Characters drink -- both alone and together -- and smoke fairly frequently; some overdo it to the point of drunkenness and hangovers. Characters kiss, and there's the suggestion of an extramarital affair. Language includes a use of "for Christ's sake" and an insult: "sadistic pig."

Community Reviews

BuckTater
BuckTater Adult
December 24, 2021
age 12+

Slow and mostly boring.

Unbelievably slow, but it does pick up near the end. Although I'm a huge Christie fan, I've never read this book. And I figured it out very early on. I thought the casting below average especially the leading man. I expect better from Julian Fellowes.
imisstherainstz
imisstherainstz Adult
March 13, 2019
age 14+

Compelling, Disturbing

"Crooked House" contains almost no profanity, no sex or nudity, and is bloodless despite it being about a murder. No violence is shown other than a woman who shoots at moles. Sexual activity is discussed (albeit not as salaciously as "Ordeal by Innocence") and alluded to (bare shoulders, kissing and toppling over), but would be considered a light PG-13. The movie is slow and not especially clever in dialogue, but I found the mystery to be compelling enough. I don't know that it would hold much rewatch value considering that it's not the sort of movie where the clues all come together at the end giving you an "aha!" moment -- once the murderer is revealed, it seems painfully obvious. The greater caution for families with younger children (say 13 and under depending on the individual) is the depiction of the child in the house, who is consistently rude to her authorities and manipulative towards the other characters in disturbing ways. The disinterested adults do not discipline or discourage her behaviors. Without getting into spoilers, if you choose to watch, be prepared to have some discussion about the themes of justice, revenge, and the difference between true and distorted love (consider the final scene of the movie and the motives behind how it played out).
See all 3 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In CROOKED HOUSE, private eye Charles Hayward (Max Irons) is hired by a former lover, Sophia de Havilland (Stefanie Martini), to find out who killed her wealthy grandfather, Aristide Leonides. The house is filled with relatives, all of whom despised the old man and all of whom are suspects. Hayward investigates everyone, including Edith (Glenn Close), who hunts moles with a gun; Aristide's grown sons, Philip (Julian Sands) and Roger (Christian McKay); Philip's actress wife, Magda (Gillian Anderson); and the old man's second wife, a former Las Vegas dancer named Brenda (Christina Hendricks), who stands to inherit everything. Hayward also bonds with 12-year-old Josephine (Honor Kneafsey), who says she knows everything that goes on in the house but also admits that she likes to make things up. With a Scotland Yard chief inspector (Terence Stamp) riding him, Hayward has precious little time to uncover the real killer.

Is It Any Good?

Based on an Agatha Christie novel (reportedly one of her own favorites), this mystery is beautifully shot, with great set design, but it suffers from its odd pace. It's too fast to pick up on character nuance and too slow to generate any suspense. Crooked House serves up an entire mansion full of suspects, all of whom appear equally guilty and equally innocent. Director Gilles Paquet-Brenner (Sarah's Key, Dark Places) seems more intent on trying to build a mystery than on building a world populated by characters. Everyone seems placed like a puzzle piece, rather than organically occupying a living space.

Certainly Christie's skill comes into play during the final act, as the discovery becomes imminent and the disparate clues that have been scattered about begin to make sense, but until then, it's a thinly spread mess. The movie spends a great deal of time on the history between the detective and young Josephine, but it amounts to almost nothing; it's padding. Screenwriter Julian Fellowes has done far better (Gosford Park, Downton Abbey); Crooked House is just a lazy weekend in a big house with people no one would ever give a hoot about in real life.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Cooked House's depiction of violence and murder. How much does the movie actually show? How much is suggested? Is the result thrilling or gruesome? What's the impact of media violence on kids?

  • How does the movie depict drinking and smoking? Are these things glamorized? If so, how?

  • How does the movie compare to other films based on Agatha Christie stories? What's the appeal of murder mysteries?

Movie Details

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