The Wasteland Reviewer

The Thursday Murder Club (2025) Written Review

Who doesn’t get a little intrigued by a good old-fashioned mystery? Mystery novels have been popular for well over a century with Arthur Conan Doyle creating the world’s greatest sleuth in Sherlock Holmes and Agathe Christie made a whole career on murder mysteries. The trend made the leap to the big screen as well as on television. Much of British television is filled with mystery with Midsomer Murders, Father Brown, and Broadchurch and American television has Murder, She Wrote and Diagnosis Murder. We have seen Poirot on the big screen and small screen multiple times and now we have Benoit Blanc shining in Rian Johnson’s new series. There are so many possibilities with the cases and those individuals who jump at the chance to solve them. Netflix is getting in on the trend by adapting a beloved book series…m Thursday Murder Club. 

Does this new Netflix mystery offer up a compelling and engrossing mystery? One of the most interesting elements of this new film is how many layers and deaths there are. This is not a simple one-off murder that grabs the whole attention of the film. The screenplay from Katy Brand and Suzanne Heathcote (based on the novel series from Richard Osman) deliver a big mystery that transcends generations, offers up big conspiracies, and becomes deeply personal for the protagonists. Osman’s engaging and interesting quartet of elder mystery enthusiasts make for great protagonists who the audience can empathize with and care about. They all have different personalities and skills that come together and make for an excellent team. The wonderful retirement home they all belong to is in jeopardy by the one of the men who owns which leads to dead bodies piling up. There are a few murders that have layers of complexities that connect but also broaden the scope and open the door to more drama, emotion, and mystery along the way. There are certainly familiar elements and tropes of the murder mystery genre but there are so many layers and thematic elements that deepen and enrich the film. Brand and Heathcote explore sexism, aging, immigration, corporate greed, and organized crime. There is plenty to chew on here and plenty of characters to get invested in. 

Does director Chris Columbus do a good job of delivering the right atmosphere to explore this complex story? There are certainly moments of intensity and weight as the film has some key moments that are shocking as well as deeply emotional. Columbus does a fine job of giving space for those emotionally beats that land and building an organic connection to the audience. There is just so much charm floating around The Thursday Murder Club as these characters have fun loving personalities (mostly), a passion for what they are doing, and plenty of bits of humor. Columbus does a fine job of balancing that humor, the emotion around the story, and the darker elements that are uncovered along the way. The film certainly has a lighter tone than most series dealing with murder and such, but Columbus does not undercut the moments that need to be heavier. The needle drops deliver as well as Columbus finds the right personality for this film.

What is the most eye-catching element of this film? This cast…is STACKED. Helen Mirren is basically the leader of this crew, and she has a tough demeanor and a powerful presence. Mirren makes Elizabeth’s mysterious past so much more compelling through her specific and strong performance. Pierce Brosnan is charming as ever and has a commanding presence which gets his fellow retirees following him along the way. Ben Kingsley is sharp, intelligent, and a gentle soul with just so many rich layers injected. Celia Imrie is such a lovely addition as the new member who feels so genuine as she struggles to find her footing in this new crew. Naomi Ackie is a fun and sweet addition as the young cop from the city who is fighting an uphill battle against sexism in the police department. Daniel Mays is a funny presence as the slightly inept DCI leading the murder cases. Henry Lloyd-Hughes might be one of the lowest profile actors, but his presence is felt so well, and he becomes such a key piece to this story. Jonathan Pryce portrays Mirren’s husband with dementia, and he brings so many charming and emotional layers to this important character. There is a strong and intense trio of actors who portray the nefarious forces of the story with David Tennant, Geoff Bell, and Richard E. Grant delivering their unique brands of personas to the film. There are even more characters thrown in, but the point is made…this cast truly makes the experience. 

Will The Thursday Murder Club scratch that murder mystery itch? You can tell that Columbus is channeling a long legacy of British television like this film but that does not take away from the execution. Columbus delivers on the right tone. This cast injects a towering amount of charm and emotion into this film which makes it so memorable. The mystery (or mysteries) is compelling enough to engage while feeling fresh enough. There are surprising amounts of depth for this Netflix original release and it deserves so much credit.