See How They Run: A Must-Watch Agatha Christie-Inspired Murder Mystery Comedy

by

Agatha Christie remains incredibly popular, and it’s not surprising that her fans are enjoying the recent surge in murder mystery films and series like Knives Out and The Thursday Murder Club. However, one movie every Agatha Christie enthusiast should definitely watch is See How They Run.

Okay, let me tell you about See How They Run. This 2022 film is a really fun murder mystery with a fantastic cast – Saoirse Ronan and Sam Rockwell are absolutely brilliant. They play the detectives, and the movie leans hard into all the classic tropes you expect from a whodunnit, which I loved. But here’s the kicker for Agatha Christie fans: the plot actually revolves around the story behind her play, The Mousetrap! If you’re a Christie devotee, you absolutely have to check this one out.

The Suspects in See How They Run Are All Connected to The Mousetrap

The film features a mismatched detective duo: the cynical, hard-drinking Inspector George Stoppard and the enthusiastic Constable Stalker, played by Saoirse Ronan. They join forces to solve the murder of Leo Kopernick (Adrien Brody), an American filmmaker in London to direct a film based on the play The Mousetrap.

The story takes place in the 1950s, as the long-running play The Mousetrap reaches its 100th performance in London. During the celebratory party, attended by everyone involved in the production, a disagreement between Kopernick and the play’s leading lady and her husband escalates until both men tumble into the party cake.

After leaving the main party, Kopernick searches the theater for a change of clothes, but unexpectedly, he’s found by someone else. The story unfolds in a non-traditional way, with Kopernick narrating events until his own murder. He’s killed behind the scenes, but his body is discovered center stage, making everyone at the theater a potential suspect.

The movie unfolds as Inspector Stoppard and Constable Stalker question the people involved. Through their stories, we learn more about Kopernick’s time in London and his plans to make a film based on The Mousetrap. But Kopernick’s ideas and changes to the original story weren’t popular with everyone.

If you enjoy murder mysteries, you’ll love See How They Run. It skillfully combines comedy and suspense, with a satisfying and clever solution to the ‘who done it?’ question. But beyond being a great mystery film, it’s a must-see for Agatha Christie fans because The Mousetrap was actually her second original play.

Agatha Christie Was a Critically Acclaimed Playwright

Most people are familiar with Agatha Christie’s novels, like Murder on the Orient Express, And Then There Were None, and The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. But many don’t realize she was also a talented playwright. Her first play, Black Coffee, features her famous detective, Hercule Poirot.

Agatha Christie became famous as a playwright with her second original play, The Mousetrap. Although she also wrote stage adaptations of works like Black Coffee and Death on the Nile, it was The Mousetrap that truly launched her career. The play, which premiered in London’s West End in 1952, was an immediate success.

Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap holds the record as the longest-running play in the West End of London, and indeed, worldwide. It has been performed continuously since 1952, with a short break during the COVID-19 pandemic before returning to the stage in 2021. By 2025, it had surpassed 30,000 performances.

Those familiar with Agatha Christie only through her famous mysteries will discover a different side of her in See How They Run. The film also explores Christie’s habit of drawing inspiration from actual crimes – a common practice among mystery writers – and how this influenced her work, particularly in See How They Run.

While See How They Run draws inspiration from Agatha Christie, it’s not simply a tribute to her work. The film playfully critiques and pokes fun at Christie’s style, while also shedding light on a lesser-known part of her career. Beyond its connection to Christie, See How They Run offers plenty to enjoy for anyone who loves a good murder mystery.

See How They Run Is a Blend of Genres and Eras

Beyond the story, See How They Run is visually striking. A particularly clever technique the director uses is the split-screen, which shows two perspectives at once. For example, during the opening fight scene between Kopernick and the lead actress’s husband, the split-screen effectively captures the chaos from multiple angles.

The movie uses a split-screen technique to emphasize the stark differences between the personal lives of Inspector Stoppard and Constable Stalker, such as when showing them returning to very different homes. Director Tom George explained to The Gamer that the split screen is meant to feel like “people watching each other,” which accurately reflects how the audience experiences the film.

The film uses split screen during moments of intense suspense, like when the story follows multiple characters before they converge. While this technique is more common in 1960s filmmaking than in the 1950s, when the story takes place, it contributes to the film’s unique mix of styles and time periods.

I really loved how fresh and contemporary the movie felt! It was fascinating to learn that when Leo Kopernick tried to update The Mousetrap, the original cast and crew weren’t thrilled with his changes. But it’s so clever how that history actually becomes a key part of the story in See How They Run – it’s woven right into the plot!

See How They Run Has a Star-Studded Cast

What makes See How They Run stand out is its creative direction and writing. However, it’s the strong acting – especially from stars Saoirse Ronan and Sam Rockwell – that truly brings the story to life. Several other actors also deliver captivating performances whenever they’re on screen.

The actress, known for her roles in Little Women and Lady Bird, plays Constable Stalker, a fresh and enthusiastic police officer. Stalker is reminiscent of Leslie Knope from Parks and Recreation – she’s energetic and optimistic, but occasionally awkward and prone to frustrating Inspector Stoppard.

CBR Report

CBR Report

Known for roles in films like Vice and Jojo Rabbit, the actor plays Inspector George Stoppard, a troubled and irritable man with a drinking problem who clashes with his boss. When Scotland Yard focuses on a serial killer, he’s reluctantly paired with Stalker as his partner.

Adrien Brody, famous for serious roles in movies like The Pianist and The Darjeeling Limited, surprises audiences with a very funny performance as American film director Leo Kopernick. He narrates the story himself, right up until his character’s death, showcasing a comedic side many may not know he has.

Ruth Wilson, known for her roles in Jane Eyre and Luther, plays Petula Spencer, the producer of The Mousetrap and Agatha Christie’s agent. Reece Shearsmith, from Psychoville, portrays John Woolf, a British film producer from the 1950s who collaborated with his brother James, and is trying to bring a film version of The Mousetrap to the screen.

Sian Clifford, known for Fleabag, portrays Edana Romney, the actress who was Virginia Woolf’s wife. Harris Dickinson and Pearl Chanda play Richard Attenborough and Sheila Sim, the original lead actors in The Mousetrap. Interestingly, Attenborough and Sim were married in real life before becoming the first stars of the play.

A delightful surprise for Agatha Christie fans is seeing Shirley Henderson – known from films like Trainspotting, Bridget Jones, and the Harry Potter series – portray the author herself. The series also features Max Mallowan, Christie’s second husband, an archaeologist, played by an actor from Game of Thrones.

As a huge movie buff, I absolutely loved See How They Run! It’s a brilliantly funny murder mystery. If you’re an Agatha Christie fan, you’ll get a kick out of all the little nods to her work. But even if you don’t know Christie, it’s still a fantastic whodunit with everything you want from the genre – twists, turns, and a really clever story.

Read More

2025-12-23 04:38