Review of Murder by Decree (1979) by Robert H — 20 Nov 2013

With a feel reminiscent of the old Hammer films this co Canadian UK produced film does a good job of telling a Sherlock Holmes story. Christopher Plummer does a very good (though not my fave) portrayal of the master detective and while Sherlock Holmes and Jack the Ripper are quite common and well known characters/stories, Murder by Decree does a decent job of keeping the story as fresh and new as possible.

Feeling more like a movie of the week (Hammer films often fit that bill afterall) Murder by Decree does not fill itself with sexual references or gory details which is both good and bad. While I would have liked a film with more visual stimuli, this Sherlock tale just shows that you don't need to show too much in order to tell a story... but the visceral portion of my pleasure center still wanted more.

Murder by Decree isn't for everyone. Younger audiences might find the film a tad bit slow and without the visual punch they're used to. Fans of Hammer studios on the other hand will find themselves right at home. Bob Clark manages to produce yet another underrated yet skilled outing that does justice to the Sherlock Holmes character.