Incannerax What a waste of my time!!!

Ensofter Overrated and overhyped

Huievest Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

Mandeep Tyson The acting in this movie is really good.

Prismark10 The contrast with this feature length episode and the much later ones cannot be more stark.Despite the longer running time, The ABC Murders does not feel padded. The art direction is exquisite even for small street scenes. More importantly it has dashes of humour even though the storyline is dark. I actually laughed several times. Captain Hastings returns to London from South America with a smelly stuffed crocodile as a gift for Poirot. Almost immediately Poirot's little grey cells are being tasked.Poirot receives a series of anonymous letters from a killer who calls himself ABC who taunts him by telling Poirot where he will strike next. The killer leaves an ABC railroad schedule at the scene of the murders, the victims appear to be random but the killer seems to have an obsession with an adherence to alphabetical order both in the names of the victims and the town or city the deaths occur.Poirot gets the friends and families of the various victims together to look for any common clues in order to find the serial killer. Suspicion falls on a shell shocked war veteran who is a door to door stocking salesman. The press are going hysterical with alliterative headlines.Poirot suspects that not all of the victims were random.The ABC murders is an intriguing episode which was simply well made, the characters are comfortable with each other, Japp joking about receding hairline to Hastings, it tries to divert you to a cul de sac but Poirot is too wily for that.

Paul Evans Serial killer ABC plots their murders using an apparent infatuation of the alphabet to choose their victims. ABC opts to taunt Poirot by writing to him, goading him, bragging of their successes and the failings of the Police and authorities. With the assistance of The Police and the nearest and dearest of the victims Poirot sets about catching the clever and dangerous ABC.I think in all honesty it's this one that got me hooked in Poirot. It has all the elements necessary for an outstanding murder mystery. It looks wonderful, the 1930's are wonderfully recreated, lots of Art deco to admire. Some of the settings are lovely too, the scenes in Bexhill and by the promenade look beautiful. The story is really intriguing and intelligent.I love the music throughout, it works so well at building up the tension.Suchet made the role of Poirot his own, nobody else even comes close, he is fabulous in this one, particularly in the conclusion. The trio of Poirot, Japp and Hastings (and Miss Lemon when she's there) work brilliantly well together, but the plaudits in this one have to go to Donald Sumpter, he portrays Cust brilliantly, he's hugely troubled, guilt ridden, scared and his world is falling apart around him. A quick mention for Vivienne Burgess too, only a small role as Lady Clark, but she was excellent.It's wonderful from start to finish. It shows just how clever Poirot is, Christie's genius shines through, one of the best adaptations. 10/10

golf5402 This is my favorite Hercule Poirot murder mystery. Rare Agatha Christie murder mystery where there seems to be a serial killer. Hercule Poirot receives letters from the killer taunting him about his inability to prevent the crimes even after being warned even to the extent of being told in which city the murder would occur. One letter is sent to the wrong address. Inspector Japp believes it is because the killer was drinking whiskey and wrote the name of the maker of the whiskey for Hercule Poirot's address. There is also a funny subplot dealing with a large lizard that Capt. Hasting had killed in Argentina on the Orinoco River and has been preserved. There is also a funny scene with Capt. Hastings washing dishes and Hercule Poirot drying the dishes. Hercule Poirot makes Capt. Hsstings re-wash saucers several times before they meet his satisfaction.

bensonmum2 I believe that I've always loved Agatha Christie's books. When I was younger, I can remember reading and re-reading each one, especially those with Hercule Poirot, over and over. I've probably read most of her books at least 3 times. So it only seems natural that I would be a fan of and enjoy movies adapted from Christie's mysteries. The big-budget Hollywood films like Death on the Nile and Murder on the Orient Express are among my favorite films. But for whatever reason, over the years, I have passed on most chances to watch Poirot with David Suchet on television. I had caught the odd episode here and there, but they were not a priority. I've decided to change that and give them a try.It's odd that I would start my journey through the series with The ABC Murders. Of all the Poirot novels, it's one of my least favorite. Most of the problems I have with the novel are the same as those I have with the movie. The biggest issue I have is the story's structure, including the final reveal. For my money, we as viewers (and readers) discover far too early the identity of A.B.C. We know who the man is, what he looks like, and what he's doing. And, while the film does bring all the characters together for Poirot to make the big reveal as to the murder's identity, for lack of a better description, it lacks some of that good old English drawing room feel that I really enjoy. It's almost an afterthought without the power usual found in Christie's endings.Getting past my petty quibbles with the story's structure, the movie is very nicely done. As much as I enjoy Peter Ustinov and Albert Finney in the role of the Belgian detective, David Suchet may be the definitive Poirot. He seems closer in my mind to fitting Christie's description of Poirot than anyone else I've seen. He's quite remarkable in the role. The rest of the acting is just as good, with A.B.C. himself, Donald Sumpter, giving a wonderful performance. The film's pace is snappy and the direction is solid. Considering what I assume to be a modest budget, the 1930s sets and costuming are dead-on perfect. The film has a wonderful look to it. Overall, the positive far outweigh the preconceived negatives I had in my mind making The ABC Murders quite an enjoyable experience.I'm looking forward to visiting the other episodes in the series. If the other films in the series are this entertaining as The ABC Murders, I'm in for a real treat.