Diksha Sundriyal
One of the most effective forms of entertainment is a good murder mystery. All the Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christie remakes by BBC are not just because they have run out of material. A good mystery never gets old, even if you know exactly how it ends. Every watch lets you focus on the details you missed the first time, and learning from your mistakes makes you better at it. Who knows when this knowledge might come in handy!
However, with time, the perspective with which murder mysteries are made has increased. While some offer us a look into the killer’s mind via a hearing or in some other manner, some make the killer the protagonist, some leave the killer unidentified, while others show us how the killer is tracked down. And these are only a few ways to look at murder mysteries, and Hulu features quite a variety of them.
10. A Kind of Murder (2016)
Helmed by Andy Goddard, ‘A Kind of Murder’ deals with two murders that seem to be connected. Writer Walter Stackhouse is suspected of killing his wife, Clara, while Mitchell “Marty” Kimmel is suspected of killing his partner. What’s interesting is that Walter was investigating the death of Kimmel’s wife for inspiration for his next story when Clara apparently took her life. She did so after discovering Walter’s infidelity with a nightclub singer named Ellie Briess. ‘A Kind of Murder’ is based on Patricia Highsmith’s novel ‘The Blunderer,’ and is a bingeable drama about truth and fiction, and how often the former is stranger than the latter. The movie stars Patrick Wilson as Walter Stackhouse and Eddie Marsan as Mitchell “Marty” Kimmel, along with Jessica Biel and Haley Bennett. It can be streamed here.
9. Saint Omer (2022)
‘Saint Omer’ is inspired by the legal case of Fabienne Kabou, who was convicted of killing her 15-month-old daughter Adélaïde in Berck on 19 November 2013. She left the baby by the sea after dusk, and the little girl’s drowned dead body was discovered the next day by fishermen. Kabou was sentenced to 20 years in prison in June 2016. She is still serving the sentence. In the film, we look at the case of Laurence Coly, who, too, killed her 15-month-old girl child in the same manner as above, from the perspective of a pregnant novelist, Rama. While being a murder mystery on the face, the film delves deep into the psychological aspects of Coly’s character, exploring her experiences and emotions, and how they might just have made her do something that sounds impossible. You may watch the film here.
8. The Oxford Murders (2008)
Álex de la Iglesia’s ‘The Oxford Murders’ delves into a string of murders wherein the corpses are marked with mathematical symbols. While the cops are looking into the case, the mathematical angle piques the curiosity of Oxford University professor Arthur Seldom (John Hurt), who recruits his new mathematics student Martin (Elijah Wood). Together, they try to decipher the symbols with the belief that it will lead them to the killer. With an intriguing approach to the crime genre, ‘The Oxford Murders’ establishes itself as an interesting binge based on a “logical series of serial murders.” You can watch it here.
7. All Good Things (2010)
Andrew Jarecki’s ‘All Good Things’ is inspired by the life of Robert Durst, a wealthy real estate heir embroiled in controversy. The film begins in the 1970s, following David Marks (Ryan Gosling), a fictionalized version of Durst, and his wife Katie McCarthy (Kirsten Dunst). Their seemingly perfect marriage unravels as David’s dark past and erratic behavior come to light, culminating in Katie’s mysterious disappearance. While there is no immediate progress, some facts surface almost 20 years later that reopen Katie’s case. These facts bring David into the spotlight yet again, culminating in a dichotomous and intriguing climax. The story showcases the themes of love, power, and the shadow of unresolved truths. You can watch the movie here.
6. Boston Strangler (2023)
Based on killings that occurred in Greater Boston in the 1960s wherein 13 women were murdered, ‘Boston Strangler’ showcases the hard work of female reporters Loretta McLaughlin (Keira Knightley), who connected the murders, and her co-reporter Jean Cole (Carrie Coon) and how they fought the largely prevalent sexism of the time to report on the serial killer and keep people, especially women, well-informed. The film, directed by Matt Ruskin, is very accurate, including the details of the investigation, and this, more than anything else, makes the murder mystery worth watching. Knowing that something very close to what you are watching actually happened makes the events in the film more palpable and thus effective. You can watch the movie here.
5. Deep Water (2022)
An insane arrangement between a husband and wife to avoid the harassment of divorce gives birth to a mind-boggling murder mystery. Vic (Ben Affleck) has no problem with Melinda (Ana de Armas) sleeping with other men but seems to be responsible for killing one or more of her lovers. Is it Vic who killed the men, or is it someone else? Swinging between love and infidelity, ‘Deep Water’ offers an erotic take on the murder mystery genre. Directed by Adrian Lyne, the film is based on the 1957 eponymous novel by Patricia Highsmith. You can watch it here.
4. Spiral (2021)
Starring Chris Rock in a never-before-seen role, ‘Spiral’ is a spin-off/sequel of the ‘Saw’ horror film franchise and has been directed by Darren Lynn Bousman. It follows Detective Ezekiel “Zeke” Banks (Chris Rock), his rookie partner (Max Minghella), and Zeke’s father/retired chief Marcus Banks (Samuel L. Jackson), who investigate a series of brutal murders that are a clear reminder of the city’s sinister past. Soon, it is revealed that Banks is connected to the killer. But how? To find out, you can watch the film here.
3. Oddity (2024)
A murder mystery takes a horrific form in Damian McCarthy’s ‘Oddity.’ The movie follows Darcy Odello (Carolyn Bracken), a blind clairvoyant, who is looking into the murder of her twin sister, Dani (Bracken), who was killed a year ago. The man accused, Olin (Tadhg Murphy), was also found dead later on. Darcy’s investigation eventually brings her to the house of Dani’s husband, Ted (Gwilym Lee), who lives with his new girlfriend, Yana (Caroline Menton). As Darcy uses her skills to find the real killer, ‘Oddity’ reveals the process in an unnerving yet captivating manner. In many ways, a debate between the rational and the irrational, the movie does a wonderful job pinning one against the other without casting a vote for either. Or does it? To find out, you can watch ‘Oddity’ here.
2. The Pledge (2001)
Jack Nicholson plays police detective Jerry Black, who is looking into the curious case of the murder of a young girl in Sean Penn’s ‘The Pledge.’ Black is about to retire when the body of a little girl is discovered, and he promises her mother that he will find the killer. As Black tries to gather the potential breadcrumbs, he develops a relationship with a local waitress and her daughter, with the latter playing a crucial role in bringing Jerry close to the murderer. The question is: Can he bring the criminal to justice? Nicholson is a feast for the eyes in the movie and single-handedly carries it forward. However, the cast also includes Patricia Clarkson, Benicio del Toro, Aaron Eckhart, Helen Mirren, and Mickey Rourke. You can watch ‘The Pledge’ here.
1. Longlegs (2024)
FBI agent Lee Harker finds herself at the center of a series of bizarre murder-suicides in Oz Perkins’ horror thriller ‘Longlegs.’ The investigation soon brings her face to face with a face from her past that may be responsible for the deaths. The question is how? With satanism and psychology at its heart, ‘Longlegs’ is a rare serial killer flick that doesn’t wait to reveal the truth but will get you glued to the screen as you wait to find out who or what led to what and how. Starring Maika Monroe as Lee Harker and Nicolas Cage as the face from the past, AKA the titular character, the movie is a must-watch purely for its execution and effect. It can be streamed here.
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