A Whodunit That Drifts

Read Time:5 Minute, 17 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
The Mirror Crack'd (4KUHD)
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Genre: Mystery, Crime, Drama
Year Released: 1980, Kino Lorber 4K 2026
Runtime: 1h 45m
Director(s): Guy Hamilton
Writer(s): Jonathan Hales, Barry Sandler; based on the novel by Agatha Christie
Cast: Angela Lansbury, Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, Tony Curtis, Kim Novak, Geraldine Chaplin, Edward Fox
Where to Watch: available now, order your copy here: www.kinolorber.com or www.amazon.com

RAVING REVIEW: What happens when a mystery stacks its cast with Hollywood legends but forgets to center the detective meant to solve the crime? THE MIRROR CRACK’D opens with all the trappings of a classic Agatha Christie adaptation: a quaint village, a glamorous film production, and a murder that should disrupt both worlds. Instead, the film takes its time deciding what it wants to be, splitting its focus between star-driven character drama and procedural intrigue, and never fully committing to either. That tension shapes the entire experience, for better and for worse.

Angela Lansbury steps into the role of Miss Marple with warmth and authority, projecting intelligence without affectation. She’s believable as someone people both underestimate and trust, which is essential to the character. The issue isn’t her performance; it’s how sparingly the film chooses to use her. For long stretches, Miss Marple observes rather than investigates, relegated to a narrative position that feels more symbolic. When she finally asserts herself, it’s effective, but the delay blunts the impact.

Guy Hamilton’s direction leans heavily into contrast. A quiet English village becomes the backdrop for a visiting Hollywood production, and the clash of sensibilities is clearly the film’s main fascination. This is less a puzzle-box mystery than a study of performance, ego, and illusion. The victim almost feels secondary to the spectacle of movie stars circling one another, delivering dialogue and controlled venom with practiced ease.

Elizabeth Taylor dominates the screen in a way that’s both intentional and limiting. Her presence brings weight and melancholy to the story, and the emotional backstory tied to her character is genuinely stirring. However, the film’s gravitational pull toward her shifts the focus away from the mystery's mechanics. Rather than building tension through investigation, the narrative waits for the emotion to catch up to the crime.

Rock Hudson brings a subdued sadness to his role, while Tony Curtis leans into self-aware satire, clearly enjoying the chance to poke at Hollywood excess. Kim Novak’s scenes offer sharp exchanges, particularly when paired with Taylor. These moments are entertaining in isolation, but they also reinforce the film’s imbalance. THE MIRROR CRACK’D is often more interested in commentary than construction.

The central mystery is strong on paper, but its execution feels oddly muted. Clues surface quietly and without urgency, and the pacing rarely feels like it wants to move. Instead of tightening as revelations accumulate, the film maintains a steady, almost placid rhythm. For viewers accustomed to Christie adaptations that hinge on escalating suspicion, this restraint can feel like disengagement.

The film is polished and composed, favoring clean framing and period detail over atmosphere. The setting is pleasant but rarely ominous, and the danger never fully seeps into the environment. Even the murder itself feels distant, as though the film is reluctant to disrupt its surface for too long.

Where THE MIRROR CRACK’D succeeds the most is in its emotional resolution. When the motive is finally revealed, it lands with unexpected weight, leaving you with it. The explanation reframes earlier scenes and lends the story a tragic undercurrent that lingers beyond the mechanics of the crime. It’s a reminder that Christie’s work often hinges less on inventiveness than on human consequence.

Although the payoff arrives late, and by then the film has already committed itself to a different priority. This is a star showcase first and a mystery second. For some viewers, that balance will feel indulgent; for others, it will feel frustrating.

THE MIRROR CRACK’D is neither a misfire nor a standout. It’s a respectable, occasionally engaging adaptation that never fully capitalizes on its strengths. Lansbury deserved more agency, the mystery deserved more urgency, and the film itself seems caught between reverence and restraint.

What remains is an interesting artifact of its era; elegant, conversational, and more reflective than suspenseful. As a companion piece to the Poirot films of the same period, it feels lighter and less self-confident. As a character study wrapped in a murder plot, it holds modest appeal. The mirror may crack, but the reflection never quite focuses.

Product Extras:
DISC 1 (4KUHD):
Brand New HDR/Dolby Vision Master – From a 4K Scan of the 35mm Original Camera Negative
Audio Commentary by Film Historians Howard S. Berger, Steve Mitchell, and Nathaniel Thompson
Triple-Layered UHD100 Disc
Optional English Subtitles

DISC 2 (BLU-RAY):
Brand New HD Master – From a 4K Scan of the 35mm Original Camera Negative
Audio Commentary by Film Historians Howard S. Berger, Steve Mitchell, and Nathaniel Thompson
TV Spots
Theatrical Trailer
Dual-Layered BD50 Disc
Optional English Subtitles

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[photo courtesy of KINO LORBER]

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