See How They Run - A Movie Review

What have we figured out in the murder case thus far?

See How They Run arrived in theaters in 2022. A smash-hit play is put to a halt when one of its cast members is murdered right on the stage. Figuring out all the clues, Inspector Stoppard and Constable Stalker write down all their evidence.

You can never go wrong with a good murder mystery. Ever since I saw the poster and read who was in See How They Run, I wanted to go see it. Doing a fantastic job with its comedy, the film falls flat in its storytelling.

Sam Rockwell and Saorsia Ronan made a successful (and unexpected) comedic team. They worked very well together, delivering the best of comedy. I laughed at most exchanges between the pair.

Rockwell has become one of my new favorite actors to binge all of his versatile roles. He has a knack for comedy, and he is also a wonderful dramatic actor. He incorporated comical gimmicks, but his character was never fully explored.

As for Ronan, I have only seen her in dramas. She is a natural at comedy. My favorite joke is Constable Stalker proclaiming a staged murder. Hopefully, this opens the door for more comedic roles for Ronan.

The film incorporates memorable acting talents. Credits include Adrien Brody, Ruth Wilson, Reece Shearsmith, Harris Dickinson, David Oyelowo, Charlie Cooper, and a memorable appearance by Shirley Henderson. With all the actors, See How They Run never gives any of the characters much time to expand on the backstory.

See How They Run attempted to do something different compared to other murder mysteries. Most of the film heavily focuses on scenes between Rockwell and Ronan, instead of the ensemble.

It was a good idea but despite the fun banter between the main characters, we needed a break from them. More scenes should have involved the ensemble who were all terrific. They’re not involved with the murder story well into the climax. Some appear in separate scenes, but we needed more ensemble work.

In my opinion, if this film was trying to change the dynamics of murder mysteries then it should have focused more on Constable Stalker. Constable Stalker is easily the best character, becoming more confident. She is the only character who really had a story. I thought writers would divulge more into her life at one point.

Acting aside, the way See How They Run was edited was crafted well. Scenes are divided into split screens, cutting to different actions going on in the same scene. Totally appropriate for a mystery film like this.

The film noir style and classy locations were noteworthy. I thought that it was going to take place in the theater for the entire duration. It is a significant location after all. Did the story really need to be extended over a course of days instead of just one?

See How they Run is an entertaining mystery but somewhere it fell flat in its story execution. Tom George executed the film well, along with advising his actors, but it’s not written strongly, becoming repetitive. We already get the dynamic between Inspector Stoppard and Constable Stalker.

In my opinion, this film should have gone with the pathway they were indicating. It would have made for a stronger revelation along with a more compelling depiction of one of the main characters.

I still recommend that you see See How They Run. It is a fun murder mystery that has you laughing with humorous gags. It keeps you guessing until the end.