The Buckingham Murders

This is an example of a movie where the actors, the director - pretty much everyone else does a good job. But the script is so underwhelming, and dare I say, so out of place, that it just single handedly pulls the movie down.

Without going into any spoilers, the biggest problem with the script is that the script writer doesn't seem to grasp that there's something as 'too many twists'.

Towards the end of the second half of the movie, there's a major 'twist' once every 5 or 10 minutes. A lot of them just feels so forced just for a presumed shock value and completely destroys the momentum of the money.

Also, a lot of characters have extremely flimsy motivations behind their actions. Some don't even make any logical sense. And some, might make sense but the story doesn't do enough to make us really care about it.

I am a big fan of crime thrillers, arguably my favorite genre in cinema.

But this isn't it. A fast forward watch at best when it comes out on OTTs. Low average.

Why didnt Kareena worked on her accent? How can u cast her for a role where u are living in uk and working as a police officer and dont have a proper accent! Her acting was not so good either. Little over the top.

I forgot she is a producer offcourse so she can do what is want.

Have seen better movies of yours Hansal Mehta.

Dont have anything more to say. Just had the urge to write about Kareena. Because i couldnt find it in any reviews. Nobody is talking about that. Dont know why.

Byebyebyebye Have to fill in with minium 600 alfabets so i am just writing littlw bit more. Just ignore this thanx :)

This movie which was a Whodunit was an average movie with lots of twists and turns until the very end. These cat and mouse themed films can only be really enjoyed when everything is in sync viz.very good script,acting direction &editing as there is no glamour to help when another section is lacking Unfortunately this film ticked all of the boxes except the acting. Since this was a very low budget movie besides Kareena there were no other stars which was perfectly understandable &acceptable. However the acting of the junior staff was in sync with the budget,low or at best average! If they had some brilliant performances,it would have lifted the movie a great deal as it had a very good script but this did not happen!

6/10.

The Buckingham Murders has a strong plot and an intriguing storyline that pulls you in from the start. It weaves a suspenseful narrative that keeps you hooked until the end. The cast delivers commendable performances, and the film shows high production quality. However, it's difficult not to notice a recurring trope in Bollywood: the inclusion of religious tension, specifically between Hindu, Muslim, and Sikh communities. This time, the addition of these elements felt forced and detracted from an otherwise solid thriller.

It's understandable that art sometimes reflects social realities, but in The Buckingham Murders, the handling of these themes felt stereotypical and added unnecessary weight to the story. The portrayal of certain groups, particularly in a negative light, came across as a cliché, diminishing the film's uniqueness and seeming like a repetitive, almost predictable approach seen in other Indian movies. This kind of treatment might appeal to some audiences but for others, it can feel heavy-handed and repetitive.

If the film had focused solely on the mystery at its core, it could have been a remarkable addition to the thriller genre. Instead, the attempt to add layers of religious and communal strife ends up detracting from the narrative. This movie would have stood stronger without these added stereotypes, which risk overshadowing the well-executed plot and skillful acting.

Bollywood's 'Mare of Easttown'.....? Not sure if that's high praise on this film or that's an unfair comparison, but if you're into the mood for a crime thriller, you might want to check this out.

Kareena and the support cast do a good job. The film is well shot, the color correction stood out for the amount of green in the film. The plot - you can tell that they tried hard to subvert; you know the most obvious person with the motive isn't the real bad guy and that the predictable part in this film. You know someone else will eventually be the focus, and that takes (at least took away for me) the viewing experience, but you may feel otherwise and actually enjoy the film more.

Will recommend for a one-time watch regardless, if you like the crime thriller genre.