A Gothic Mystery Searching for Its Edge

Read Time:5 Minute, 59 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
Daggers Inn
–

Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Supernatural
Year Released: 2025, 2026
Runtime: 1h 36m
Director(s): James Smith
Writer(s): James Smith, Caroline Spence
Cast: Anna Danvers, Terry Bamberger, Charlie Bond, Julian Clapton, James Hamer-Morton, Lutricia Norris
Where to Watch: available on UK digital March 23, 2026

RAVING REVIEW: Mysteries thrive on tension. They invite the audience to step into a puzzle, carefully examining the clues, red herrings, and suspicions until the truth finally snaps into place. DAGGERS INN clearly wants to operate within that tradition, building a small-town murder mystery around secrets, revenge, and the unsettling feeling that everyone in the room may be hiding something.

The film, directed by James Smith and written alongside Caroline Spence, explores life inside the medieval English village of Haxanbury. In this solitary place, time seems to move more slowly, and outsiders rarely arrive without bringing attention. When Donna Revan appears in town, the locals immediately sense something unusual about her. She carries herself with a unique determination, observing the people around her with an intensity that feels deliberate rather than accidental. Her reason for arriving soon becomes clear. Two years earlier, Donna’s sister Sybil was discovered dead in the village lake, bound to a chair in a brutal and unresolved murder. The investigation stalled, the town moved on, and the truth slipped into silence. Donna has returned to end the silence.

Anna Danvers takes on this role with a performance that works best when the film leans into its darker tones. Donna is a character built on controlled anger. She rarely raises her voice, yet every conversation carries the suggestion that she’s evaluating the person standing in front of her. That restrained fierceness becomes the film’s best asset, giving the story a sense of purpose even when the surrounding mystery grows uneven.

The structure follows a fairly classic whodunnit approach. Donna begins inserting herself into the daily life of Haxanbury, carefully probing conversations and pushing against the polite surface the villagers try to maintain. One by one, secrets begin to slip into view. Business dealings, old grudges, and long-buried tensions all start to intersect with the unanswered question of Sybil’s death.

A key figure in Donna’s investigation is Toby Vass, a wealthy financier whose influence stretches across much of the village. Played by James Hamer-Morton, Vass carries the kind of confidence that often accompanies unchecked power. His presence adds a layer of intrigue to the story, particularly as Donna begins to suspect that his reputation may conceal something far darker.

The atmosphere becomes one of the film’s strongest pieces. The rural English setting is used to full effect, with misty lakes, narrow village streets, and old stone buildings that reinforce the sense that history lingers in every corner. The visual style frequently leans into muted colors and shadowy interiors, creating a tone that fits comfortably alongside traditional British mystery storytelling. There are moments where DAGGERS INN hints at something slightly stranger as well. Supernatural undertones occasionally creep into the narrative, suggesting that the village’s past may hold more than just the secrets at focus.

Where the film begins to struggle is in how those ideas develop. The central mystery never quite reaches the level of complexity needed to sustain its run time. Several characters appear briefly as potential suspects but aren’t explored deeply enough to feel like genuine threats. The result is a narrative that sometimes moves in circles rather than steadily tightening its grip on the truth. Pacing also becomes an issue in the film's middle stretch. DAGGERS INN spends considerable time establishing the village's personalities and routines, which helps build atmosphere but occasionally slows the momentum. The sense of urgency surrounding Donna’s quest for justice comes and goes rather than consistently driving the story forward.

Some of the film's elements work well within the modest scale. The production itself was made on a notably small budget, and the filmmakers managed to stretch those resources surprisingly far. Locations feel authentic, and the rural landscapes add a natural visual richness that enhances the overall presentation. The supporting cast also contributes to the film’s tension. Characters such as Claire, Stanley Montagu-John, and various villagers offer glimpses into the layered relationships within Haxanbury. These interactions hint at a community built on quiet alliances and unspoken conflicts, which fits the genre’s tradition of seemingly peaceful towns hiding darker truths.

The score deserves particular mention as well. Rather than overwhelming scenes with dramatic orchestration, the music often stays restrained, allowing silence and subtle sound design to heighten suspense. That approach helps preserve the film’s moody tone even when the narrative itself feels slightly underdeveloped.

DAGGERS INN feels like a film caught between two directions. On one side, it wants to be a grounded British murder mystery, rooted in investigation and character-driven storytelling. On the other hand, it flirts with supernatural intrigue and gothic atmosphere. Both approaches have potential, but the film never fully commits to either one. That hesitation leaves the story feeling somewhat restrained. The premise of a woman infiltrating a secretive village to expose the truth behind her sister’s death is compelling. The setting is strong, the mood is effective, and Anna Danvers gives the film a presence worth watching. What’s missing is the sharper narrative edge that could transform those ingredients into something truly gripping.

DAGGERS INN is best approached as a quiet, atmospheric mystery rather than a high-stakes thriller. It offers moments of intrigue and a satisfying sense of place, but the investigation itself never quite cuts deeply enough to leave a lasting impression. For viewers who enjoy slow-burn British mysteries and village-set whodunnits, there’s still enough here to hold attention. Just don’t expect the blade promised by the title to land quite as sharply as it might have.

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[photo courtesy of SEVEN TALES, RAYA FILMS]

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