A Train Worth Taking

A Train Worth Taking

By: Preston Schaap

Murder on the Orient Express is the newest murder mystery movie based on the novel of the same name by Agatha Christie. This is the third movie adaptation of the novel and the protagonist detective Hercule Poirot’s mustache has gotten more majestic with each version. The greatest draw to this movie is it’s completely star studded cast. With Emmy winners and nominees like Kenneth Branagh, Penelope Cruz, Willem Dafoe, Judi Dench, and Johnny Depp, this movie has no shortage of talent. Everyone fills the shoes of their mysterious characters very well and the amazing visuals and camera work only add to this complete immersion.

The plot is simple. The world’s greatest and most well-known detective Hercule Poirot (Kenneth Branagh) is invited to take a trip on the famous Orient Express. Along with several other shady characters with their own stories, Hercule is placed in this claustrophobic vehicle for several days. The tension is created immediately when the camera pans across the train and their mysterious passengers right at the start of the trip.

After some time on the train, an avalanche closes in the train and the passengers are forced to wait it out until help comes. To add to the trouble, Hercule discovers the corpse of one of the passengers in his sleeping quarters. From this moment forward, he must use the best of his detective skills to bring the killer to justice.

For the entirety of this movie’s two hour runtime, I felt like I was right there experiencing the case being solved. This movie grabs you with its amazing characters and gorgeous scenery so remarkably well, and by the time the film was over, I felt like I had a true detective experience. This movie is perfect for anyone who enjoys a good mystery.

Final score: 9/10