
Emily Boynton, the stepmother to three children, blackmails the family lawyer into destroying a second will of her late husband that would have freed the children from her dominating influence. She takes herself, the children, and her daughter-in-law on holiday to Europe and the Holy Land. At a dig, Emily is found dead and Hercule Poirot investigates.
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I’m rating this one a little higher than the other Ustinov Poirot films as I think it’s my favorite but it’s hard to say. Much like the tv movies the theatrical films are all on a similar level of enjoyment. Perhaps this one just felt fresh after watching three contemporary adaptations. Or maybe this one really is the best. I will say that much like all the other adaptations thus far (including the tv films) the final motive still rings a little hollow. With the reasoning being something the audience doesn’t know but could surmise I find myself once again dissatisfied at the end. Much like other films as well the killer is in a way the most obvious choice. Maybe these stories worked better a century or half century ago or perhaps I’m just a genius. Or perhaps it is a flaw in these specific adaptations themselves. I did find myself puzzling over who the murderer could be for a decent amount of time but the film reveals the solution well before it verbally announces it making the ending quite stagnant. Aside from the mystery this film is excellent. The score is very 80s but with classic elements. I feel it might have been better suited for the tv adaptations with their own timeless feeling. It doesnt always quite work here but it is interesting in its own right.