After receiving an invitation from Mr. Owens, Ten strangers head towards a remote island off the English coast. On their arrival, the individuals soon realize they have been brought there by an insane man, who believes each of them must to be punished for crimes they have committed in their past. As each guest is eliminated in a fashion corresponding to the titular nursery rhyme, the strangers attempt to discover who is responsible for this deadly game. Rene Clair's And Then There Were None is a tight, mystery that works both as a tense piece of filmmaking and an impeccable dark comedy. The opening 5-10 minutes of the film feature no dialogue at all, with the 10 strangers on their ship sailing to the remote island. The time is spent with Clair simply observing these men and woman, seemingly capturing the type of character each has from their body language. With this opening sequence Clair is familiarizing the viewer with the various characters and prepping them for a film in which the observer will be keeping a close eye on everyone involved- looking for any indication of foul play. Much of this film is simply that, observation, as each of these characters' suspect each other of the murders. The comparisons to Clue are apparent and obvious but what seperates And Then There Were None from that film is Rene Clair's assured direction. Through visual design, Clair and company are able to create an aesthetic that helps elicit this sense of mystery and tension, using slow tracking shots, obtuse camera angles, framing, etc. Towards the end of the film the use of darkness is outstanding, elevating the suspense for the finale. For all the suspense and mystery that surround the film, it's impressive just how comedic And Then There Were None can be. The entire cast is superb, with sharp dialogue which sprinkles just the right amount of comedy over the tension-filled story. And Then There Were None is a classic mystery film that is well acted, directed, and photographed, supplying both mystery, suspense, and comedy into its "whodunnit" structure. 7.75/10
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June 2023
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