A Murder at the End of the World
From Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij, the creators behind Netflix series The OA, comes ultra-modern detective mystery A Murder at the End of the World. The plot centres around Darby Hart (Emma Corrin), a 24-year-old amateur sleuth and best-selling crime writer who’s summoned to an elite tech symposium by billionaire genius Andy Ronson (Clive Owen). Not long after Darby and the select list of VIP guests arrive at the secluded high-tech hotel where they’re being hosted, however, one of the attendees is found dead. Meanwhile, flashbacks follow a younger Darby working alongside her then-boyfriend Bill (Harris Dickinson) to solve the murder of an unidentified woman.
Although the concept of a whodunnit mystery set in a confined location is nothing revolutionary for the genre, with the premise popping up in everything from Agatha Christie to Knives Out, Marling and Batmanglij put a contemporary spin on the bread-and-butter set-up by lacing in talking points about technology, climate and activism to give proceedings a further layer of depth, which extends beyond simply finding the killer. At just three episodes into the series, though, it’s not entirely clear how these ideas will tie into the wider plot.
Likewise, as it stands, the murder mystery plot is only now beginning to thicken after two episodes of not much happening. With the introduction of interesting new elements in the third episode, Darby’s investigation finally feels like it has somewhere to go. What these parts of the show do have is a sleek style that emphasises the host’s vast wealth, all of which is set against the eye-widening vista of gorgeous Icelandic mountains.
It’s the flashback sequences that prove to be the more engaging parts of the show so far. Alongside containing an intriguing case which moves at a snappy pace, the chemistry between Corrin and Dickinson is instantly captivating. The pair are outstanding together, with their youthful charm making the characters incredibly likeable.
Although it takes some time for the plot to take off, stellar performances from Corrin and Dickinson form the basis of what’s shaping up to be a stylish murder mystery with some sharp modern commentary.
Andrew Murray
A Murder at the End of the World is released on Disney+ on 14th November 2023.
Watch the trailer for A Murder at the End of the World here:
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