caseymck

I admit, it took me a while to warm up to David Suchet as Poirot. For all time, my favorite Poirot films will be Finney's Murder on the Orient Express, Ustinov's Death on the Nile, and Ustinov's Evil Under the Sun. But Suchet has certainly shaped his own interpretation of Poirot with integrity and consistency. Usually, he's a pleasure to watch.

Hallowe'en Party really surprised me; it has become one of my very favorite Poirot films. It certainly is the best at making use of the wonderful Zoe Wanamaker as Ariadne Oliver. She is at her funniest in this film, and I enjoyed watching her tussle with a new Sven Hjerson novel--one where he solves a murder while on a hot air balloon over Abyssinia. I'm not sure why I love this story so much. I usually prefer those in exotic locations, with glamorous figures, and this has neither. But it DOES have all the things that make for a great murder mystery--wonderful back stories that all become relevant in time; eerie, slightly grotesque murders; good, solid red herrings; strong motives; well-rounded characters; a wonderful, satisfying scene of unmasking the killer; and clever use of sound and mise-en- scene.

The film manages to make a rather parochial setting exciting and chock full of sin and lust. I was able to solve it, but didn't find the solution particularly easy or obvious. I would highly recommend it, especially for Ariadne Oliver lovers.

The other reviews raise pretty obviously legitimate criticisms of this film, but I love it to death. Plot-wise, it's not particularly ambitious, and the racist representation of the servant is cringe- worthy. But I strangely find the movie enchanting and can watch it over and over. It's gorgeously atmospheric--the kind of cinematography I just eat up. The love story is modestly feasible, with two likable actors inhabiting those roles. I try to watch as many "old dark house" films as I can, because I love the look of them, I love murder mysteries, and it's a nice way to understand some of the conventions, fashions, trends, and language of the 30s and 40s. Unfortunately this film is not available on DVD, as far as I can tell. It streams on amazon, but you never know when those things are going to disappear. Again, this film is not technically a *10*, but I find it beautiful and absorbing, with the quintessential "old dark house" elements pure and strong.