Monday, Film4, 9:00pm
Kenneth Branagh’s 2017 adaptation of Murder on the Orient Express revives Agatha Christie’s timeless whodunit, enveloping audiences in a world of snow-capped luxury and sinister intrigue. With its lush cinematography and opulent art deco aesthetic, the film brings Christie’s murder mystery to life with a glamorous yet foreboding atmosphere. Branagh’s portrayal of the fabled Belgian detective Hercule Poirot is both commanding and human, his obsessive perfectionism juxtaposed with moments of vulnerability. Supported by a star-studded ensemble, including Michelle Pfeiffer, Johnny Depp, and Daisy Ridley, the film remains faithful to its source material while adding a modern twist to the classic detective narrative.
Composer Patrick Doyle’s score is instrumental in grounding the film’s period setting while heightening its psychological tension. Known for his long-standing collaboration with Branagh, Doyle crafts a soundscape that leans on traditional orchestral arrangements but introduces a melancholic, almost lyrical quality. The main theme, with its swelling strings and delicate piano motifs, evokes the romanticized beauty of the train journey, while undercurrents of dissonant chords signal the creeping danger lurking within. Tracks like “Justice” and “One More Mystery” employ a haunting melodic structure, amplifying Poirot’s internal struggle as he balances his sense of duty with an unexpected moral quandary.
Doyle’s work on Murder on the Orient Express elevates the film beyond its period-drama roots, using music to explore deeper emotional currents. The soundtrack’s waltz-like rhythms and sweeping harmonies accentuate the story’s themes of guilt, justice, and the moral ambiguity of retribution. It captures the opulent yet claustrophobic setting, each note reverberating with the film’s dualities of elegance and menace. In a way, Doyle’s score becomes another character—shadowing Poirot’s every move, underscoring each revelation, and ultimately bringing the audience along on a chilling journey of discovery.
- Daisy Rae