This is the third time the Agatha Christie classic "Ten Little Indians" has been brought to the big screen (after 1945 and 1965) and I must say with regret that this is certainly the weakest one.
The story is the same as it's always been: 10 strangers are invited by a mysterious stranger to a secluded hotel. This time its set in the Iranian desert of all places (this film was made before the fall of the Shah) however this unique geographical location is under exploited.
The cast is a mix of Oliver Reed, Richard Attenborough, two ex-Bond villains Largo and Goldfinger. The rest I must admit were unknown to me.
As said before: the story is very much the same as before, absolutely nothing is added to the story, the atmosphere or execution. In fact I'd say that the film is rather quiet with the dialogue lacking in content. The characters seem almost detached from the mystery unravelling around them, it doesn't seem to interest them. They put very little effort into discussing or trying to resolve the mystery. Somebody gets killed and the characters seem to forget about it almost instantaneously.
The film really fails to get you into that good "whudunit" feeling where you're wondering what happens next or how what just happened may have occurred. Its very underwhelming.
The direction isn't very successful either. The location isn't exploited quite as well as could have been to give you a sense of isolation and hopelessness. The soundtrack decisions are frankly bizarre with the background music often ruining the atmosphere.
Overall a disappointing effort, watch the 1945 or 1965 versions instead.
The story is the same as it's always been: 10 strangers are invited by a mysterious stranger to a secluded hotel. This time its set in the Iranian desert of all places (this film was made before the fall of the Shah) however this unique geographical location is under exploited.
The cast is a mix of Oliver Reed, Richard Attenborough, two ex-Bond villains Largo and Goldfinger. The rest I must admit were unknown to me.
As said before: the story is very much the same as before, absolutely nothing is added to the story, the atmosphere or execution. In fact I'd say that the film is rather quiet with the dialogue lacking in content. The characters seem almost detached from the mystery unravelling around them, it doesn't seem to interest them. They put very little effort into discussing or trying to resolve the mystery. Somebody gets killed and the characters seem to forget about it almost instantaneously.
The film really fails to get you into that good "whudunit" feeling where you're wondering what happens next or how what just happened may have occurred. Its very underwhelming.
The direction isn't very successful either. The location isn't exploited quite as well as could have been to give you a sense of isolation and hopelessness. The soundtrack decisions are frankly bizarre with the background music often ruining the atmosphere.
Overall a disappointing effort, watch the 1945 or 1965 versions instead.
