Towards Zero
- TV Mini Series
- 2025
Inspector Leach probes the brutal murder of an elderly widow in her Gull's Point home. A failed suicide, a false theft charge, an out-of-service hotel lift and a tennis star's love life inte... Read allInspector Leach probes the brutal murder of an elderly widow in her Gull's Point home. A failed suicide, a false theft charge, an out-of-service hotel lift and a tennis star's love life intersect, culminating in a bizarre mass murder plot.Inspector Leach probes the brutal murder of an elderly widow in her Gull's Point home. A failed suicide, a false theft charge, an out-of-service hotel lift and a tennis star's love life intersect, culminating in a bizarre mass murder plot.
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Summary
Reviewers say 'Towards Zero' is criticized for its slow pace, unnecessary plot changes, and lack of suspense. Disappointment arises from deviations from Agatha Christie's novel, which detract from the story. Performances are uneven, often lacking tension and menace. The overly dark visual style is frequently faulted for hindering immersion and clarity. Despite these issues, some appreciate the visual aesthetics and certain performances, though these positives are overshadowed by the overall negative reception.
Featured reviews
I'll never understand why the main character of the book gets cut out of the televised version every time. Also, why is everything so dark? It's like it was filmed in the middle of the night with a filter.
It's a good try, but Kay is not the 23 year old redhead party girl from the book, and several other characters don't ring true either. I'm just hoping that they haven't changed the murderer too.
Although, I could see the story being updated to the modern day with Kay as a social media obsessed influencer and Audrey as an ex-supermodel.
I'm giving it 5 stars for effort, even though it misses for changing the story unnecessarily.
It's a good try, but Kay is not the 23 year old redhead party girl from the book, and several other characters don't ring true either. I'm just hoping that they haven't changed the murderer too.
Although, I could see the story being updated to the modern day with Kay as a social media obsessed influencer and Audrey as an ex-supermodel.
I'm giving it 5 stars for effort, even though it misses for changing the story unnecessarily.
The visual aesthetic of the series is a major letdown. The overly dark and blueish tint gives it a dated, early-2010s look that feels more like a tired crime drama than a timeless Agatha Christie mystery. The muted color palette and lack of visual creativity make the entire production feel bland and uninspired.
The pacing is another significant issue. The combination of an overtly slow and melodramatic score and hollow conversations drag the story unnecessarily. The result is a miniseries that feels much longer than it actually is.
Finally, the characters, while seemingly layered, quickly become tiresome. Each one is burdened with a troubled past or some nuanced background, but these elements feel overused and repetitive, and lacking authenticity. Instead of adding depth, the constant focus on their personal struggles makes the characters feel like clichés. By the time the mystery reaches its conclusion, it's hard to care about who did what or why.
For me this miniseries is a waste of three hours that I want back.
The pacing is another significant issue. The combination of an overtly slow and melodramatic score and hollow conversations drag the story unnecessarily. The result is a miniseries that feels much longer than it actually is.
Finally, the characters, while seemingly layered, quickly become tiresome. Each one is burdened with a troubled past or some nuanced background, but these elements feel overused and repetitive, and lacking authenticity. Instead of adding depth, the constant focus on their personal struggles makes the characters feel like clichés. By the time the mystery reaches its conclusion, it's hard to care about who did what or why.
For me this miniseries is a waste of three hours that I want back.
First the good news: wardrobe and locations are exquisite. The actors are very good, especially Anjelica Huston as the matriarch of a despicable family. Now for the bad stuff: why oh why add absolutely unnecessary characters into one of the finest plots Agatha Christie ever wrote. The dialogues are stilted and absolutely boring. The language, contrary to the setting, is much too modern and sometimes very crude. For the life of me, I don't understand the importance of a cunnilingus scene on the stairs. It just makes no sense. And last, but not least: it's way too long. The whole story could've been told in 90 minutes, it's much too thin for three hours.
Why do the writers always take a perfectly crafted plot from the queen of suspense and trample it to death?
Why do the writers always take a perfectly crafted plot from the queen of suspense and trample it to death?
The good thing about this was it was just 3 episodes long and, being bbc who don't spend big bucks on the same old actors allowed me to watch the show rather than thinking "What have I seen them in before?"
For me the story was too slow at times with a lot of filler (an hour is an hour on bbc unlike other channels that only need 45 minutes) but it was still engaging.
Waiting a long time for the first murder wasn't helpful but that was the whole point of the story we are told.
I was losing interest until Audrey and Neville became intimate on the stairwell in episode 2.
A strange ending it has to be said after twists, turns and double buffs.
I can see why this hasn't been given the same publicity as on social media that other re went dramas have received.
Watchable but you won't miss anything if you don't.
The ABC Murders was much better.
Waiting a long time for the first murder wasn't helpful but that was the whole point of the story we are told.
I was losing interest until Audrey and Neville became intimate on the stairwell in episode 2.
A strange ending it has to be said after twists, turns and double buffs.
I can see why this hasn't been given the same publicity as on social media that other re went dramas have received.
Watchable but you won't miss anything if you don't.
The ABC Murders was much better.
Extremely poorly scripted. Dialoges are actually a pain to listen to. An orgy of commonplaces. Acting is uneven at best.
I wouldn't mind if the story is a reinterpretation of Christie's original (not all of her works are equally great anyway) but this one is just a mess. Everything feels artificial. Emotional outbreaks
The only good thing about it is the occasional jazz songs. (Not enough though to balance out the many shortcomings.) Other than that only the costumes do even give a try to set the 1930's vibe. (Not a very strong one, but a try anyway.) Everything else is just painfully out-of-time and out-of-place.
I wouldn't mind if the story is a reinterpretation of Christie's original (not all of her works are equally great anyway) but this one is just a mess. Everything feels artificial. Emotional outbreaks
The only good thing about it is the occasional jazz songs. (Not enough though to balance out the many shortcomings.) Other than that only the costumes do even give a try to set the 1930's vibe. (Not a very strong one, but a try anyway.) Everything else is just painfully out-of-time and out-of-place.
Did you know
- TriviaBurgh Island, South Devon is one of the filming locations. The island is associated with writer Agatha Christie, who often visited and used the location as inspiration for at least two novels: And Then There Were None (1939) and Evil Under the Sun (1941). Previous Christie stories filmed there include: Miss Marple: Nemesis (1987) and Evil Under the Sun (2001).
- GoofsMatthew Rhys' detective is shown smoking filter cigarettes which did not become commonplace until the late 1950s, but this is set in the 1930s.
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Година нуль
- Filming locations
- Burgh Island, Bigbury-on-Sea, Devon, England, UK(Exterior of Easterhead Bay Hotel; pool area as hotel in Nice.)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
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