The Cosmic Watchdog

If you’re a fan of mystery films, then you’re in for a treat this weekend.

On Sunday (30), get ready to experience – or re-live – the beginning of the adventures of Hercule Poirot in Murder on the Orient Express (2017), on Channel 4’s Film4.

The film is based on the book of the same name, which is the first instalment of Agathe Christie’s classic murder mystery book series.

Co-produced, directed by and starring Kenneth Branagh, the story follows Belgian detective Poirot on a peaceful train ride from Jerusalem to London.

That is when, unexpectedly, an American businessman named Mr. Ratchett is found dead in his compartment, stabbed multiple times – and an avalanche stops the train, trapping everyone on board.

Poirot, with his keen observation skills, then begins interrogating the passengers – each of whom has a connection to the victim or the Armstrong family, whose case Ratchett was involved in – to try and solve the murder.

The film’s star-studded ensemble cast also includes Tom Bateman as Poirot’s friend Bouc and Penélope Cruz as Pilar Estravados, the Armstrongs’ Spanish nurse, as well as Willem Dafoe, Judi Dench, Johnny Depp, Josh Gad, Derek Jacobi, Leslie Odom Jr., Daisy Ridley, Olivia Colman and Michelle Pfeiffer.

The Agatha Christie original story – released in 1934 – had already been adapted for the big screen in 1974, in a film of the same name that was considered a box office success at the time.

It was also made into several TV shows, including German, Japanese and Chinese versions. The story was also released as a stage play, in comic book version, and board game adaptations.

The Murder on the Orient Express film series is followed by Death on the Nile (2022) – with Gal Gadot, Armie Hammer, Letitia Wright and Emma Makey – and A Haunting in Venice (2023) – starring Jamie Dornan, Tina Fey, Michelle Yeoh and Kyle Allen.

Watch it this Sunday, at 9 pm, on Channel 4’s Film4.