Crooked House (2017) is a British mystery film directed by Gilles Paquet-Brenner, based on the Agatha Christie novel of the same name. It’s a dark, twisted whodunit filled with deceit, manipulation, and the classic Christie-style drawing room reveal — only this time, with a much darker ending than most viewers expect.
Detailed Summary
A Murder in a Crooked House
The story begins with the death of Aristide Leonides, a wealthy and eccentric patriarch of a powerful Greek-British family. He lives in a sprawling mansion on the outskirts of London with his much younger second wife Brenda, his two sons and their families, and an assortment of servants — all of whom seem to despise each other.
Private detective Charles Hayward (played by Max Irons) is called in to investigate by Aristide’s granddaughter, Sophia de Haviland (Stefanie Martini), who also happens to be Charles’s former lover. She believes her grandfather was murdered — and wants the truth uncovered before the police make any hasty conclusions.
The Suspects
As Charles begins questioning the family members, it quickly becomes clear that everyone had a motive. Brenda (Christina Hendricks), the glamorous American step-grandmother, is the most obvious suspect due to her affair with the family’s private tutor Laurence Brown (John Heffernan). But suspicion doesn’t stop there — Aristide’s sons Roger and Philip, and their wives, all had financial or emotional reasons to want the old man dead.
Meanwhile, Lady Edith (Glenn Close), Aristide’s stern sister-in-law, watches over the chaos with her hawk-like gaze, clearly hiding something of her own. The household feels like a cage filled with venomous snakes — all waiting for someone else to make the first strike.
The Investigation Deepens
Charles’s investigation uncovers layers of deception. The murder weapon was a dose of insulin mixed with eserine, a poison cleverly administered using Aristide’s diabetes injections. The act was deliberate, methodical — and chillingly intimate.
The key to solving the case lies in Aristide’s will, which he was in the process of changing before his death. It would have cut several family members out, providing motive aplenty. The closer Charles gets to the truth, the more dangerous things become.
The Shocking Truth Revealed
In the film’s climax, the murderer is revealed to be Josephine, the precocious and disturbingly intelligent 12-year-old granddaughter. Throughout the film, she had seemed like an innocent observer — scribbling clues in her notebook, playing detective alongside Charles. But in reality, she was the mastermind behind the crime.
Josephine killed her grandfather simply because he refused to send her to ballet school — a horrifyingly petty reason that underscores her sociopathic tendencies. She later attempts to kill Charles and Sophia when her secret is at risk of being exposed.
Movie Ending
The ending of Crooked House is one of the bleakest in any Agatha Christie adaptation. After discovering Josephine’s guilt, Lady Edith decides to take drastic action. She tells the others she’s going for a drive and takes Josephine along — giving her a sense of calm before the truth is revealed to the family.
Moments later, the camera cuts to a distant explosion on the horizon. Edith has driven the car off the road, killing herself and Josephine in an act of tragic mercy. The family — and Charles — watch from afar, realizing that Edith’s decision was both an act of justice and love.
The film closes in somber silence, with Charles leaving the “crooked house” behind, knowing that the truth has destroyed what little remained of its foundations.
Are There Post-Credits Scenes?
No. Crooked House does not include any post-credits scenes. The film ends on the powerful and haunting image of the explosion, followed by quiet credits — fitting for such a morally heavy conclusion.
Type of Movie
This is a mystery crime drama with psychological and gothic overtones. While it maintains the traditional Agatha Christie murder mystery setup, the tone is darker, leaning into noir territory.
Cast
- Max Irons as Charles Hayward
- Stefanie Martini as Sophia de Haviland
- Glenn Close as Lady Edith de Haviland
- Christina Hendricks as Brenda Leonides
- Terence Stamp as Chief Inspector Taverner
- Julian Sands as Philip Leonides
- Gillian Anderson as Magda Leonides
- Honor Kneafsey as Josephine Leonides
Film Music and Composer
The score is composed by Hugo de Chaire, whose music heightens the film’s brooding tension. It combines elegant, period-appropriate orchestral arrangements with eerie undertones, perfectly capturing the sense of menace lurking under the polished family facade.
Filming Locations
Filming took place mainly in London and Surrey, England, with the main house scenes shot at Minley Manor, a grand Victorian estate that adds authenticity to the “crooked” atmosphere of the Leonides home. The sprawling interiors and intricate staircases give the sense of a labyrinth — symbolic of the twisted moral paths of its inhabitants.
Awards and Nominations
While Crooked House didn’t receive major awards, it was praised for its production design, costuming, and faithful adaptation of Christie’s tone. Glenn Close’s performance was particularly noted by critics for its gravitas and quiet emotional power.
Behind the Scenes Insights
- Agatha Christie’s estate closely monitored the film’s script to ensure faithfulness to the source material.
- Glenn Close reportedly based her performance partly on Christie herself, capturing the author’s poise and hidden steel.
- Director Gilles Paquet-Brenner emphasized that this was not a cozy mystery but a psychological thriller — closer to Gone Girl than Murder on the Orient Express.
- The cast lived together for part of the shoot to build authentic family tension — and apparently, it worked!
Inspirations and References
The movie is directly adapted from Agatha Christie’s 1949 novel, which was one of her personal favorites. She famously said she loved the story because of its “uncompromisingly wicked child,” a concept quite shocking for its time.
Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes
Early drafts of the screenplay reportedly had a slightly different final scene, where Edith’s car explosion was shown from inside rather than from afar — but the director chose to keep it distant for emotional restraint. A few minor scenes exploring Brenda’s background and Laurence’s motives were cut to maintain pacing.
Book Adaptations and Differences
The film stays mostly faithful to the novel’s plot but makes subtle tone adjustments:
- The film is darker and more psychological, emphasizing moral decay.
- Sophia is more independent and assertive than in the book.
- The ending is nearly identical to the novel, though the movie’s visual presentation of the explosion gives it a cinematic finality.
Memorable Scenes and Quotes
Key Scenes
- The opening death announcement of Aristide Leonides.
- Charles’s first awkward dinner with the dysfunctional family.
- Josephine secretly spying on conversations from hidden corners.
- The final car explosion — one of the most haunting Christie endings ever filmed.
Iconic Quotes
- Lady Edith: “There’s something twisted in this house. Something that has been growing for years.”
- Charles Hayward: “Every family has secrets. Yours just happens to have a body buried under them.”
- Sophia: “We’re all crooked in this house, Charles.”
Easter Eggs and Hidden Details
- The curved staircase mirrors the title — symbolizing the “crooked” moral structure of the family.
- Josephine’s notebook includes small doodles hinting at her guilt throughout the movie.
- The phrase “Crooked House” is mentioned twice — both by different characters, each time with a darker tone.
- In one shot, the camera subtly frames Josephine through the bars of a chair, visually foreshadowing her eventual fate.
Trivia
- This was the first major Agatha Christie adaptation released after Murder on the Orient Express (2017).
- The movie was dedicated to Agatha Christie’s grandson, Mathew Prichard, who helped bring it to the screen.
- Glenn Close’s wardrobe was inspired by real 1940s upper-class fashion icons.
- The film’s title font mimics the handwritten style of Christie’s personal notebooks.
Why Watch?
If you enjoy intelligent mysteries, family drama, and morally complex characters, Crooked House is a must-watch. It’s an elegant, slow-burn thriller that rewards patient viewers with one of Agatha Christie’s most chilling conclusions. The ending alone — devastating, poetic, and unforgettable — is reason enough to experience it.
Director’s Other Movies
- Sarah’s Key (2010)
- Dark Places (2015)
- Walled In (2009)
Recommended Films for Fans
- Murder on the Orient Express (2017)
- Death on the Nile (2022)
- Knives Out (2019)
- The Others (2001)
- Gosford Park (2001)
- The Little Stranger (2018)
