Review of The Oxford Murders (2008) by Ariah K — 20 May 2012

Despite a few shortcomings, I did enjoy this film quite a lot. I am a big fan of whodunnit films, especially with such a perfect setting as Oxford and a great cast (Hurt, Cox, Pinon, even Wood does a good job). Sure, the film tends to take its killer/motive mumbo-jumbo much further and more serious than many, if not most other films about psychotic murders, but then again, I found it a nice change to watch a film set in Oxford, about a professor and student of mathematics that actually features discussions about mathematics, instead of just using it as sugar-coating for a generic Hollywood thriller. If you don't know what I am on about, watch thriller set in hospitals, military instituations or companies, they never seem to talk about anything related to what they actually do in life.

The film offers lots of twists and it's a delight to keep the guessing game going and I am happy to say that I did not guess it. And even after the murderer is revealed, the film sticks to its strength and deepens its agnostic approach by questioning to what extent society as a whole can be made responsible for crime. Yes, if this sounds too heavy-handed for you, stay away, but if you are looking for a crime thriller that moonlights as arthouse film, this is great.

Cast is solid apart from Gorman, whose performances (dubbed) is a total carcrash and more cringworthy than Catherine-Zeta Jones in Rock of Ages. The direction is solid and creates a good, brooding and dark undertone, quite apt for England and the subject matter.

Great film, highly underrated !