By Romey Norton - March 14, 2025
If you love a good murder mystery with a side of sharp wit, Death 4 Dinner serves up the perfect blend of suspense and satire. Set in an opulent manor where a lavish dinner party turns deadly when a senator is killed in cold blood, this whodunit keeps you guessing while delivering plenty of laughs and jaw-dropping twists.
Like many classic whodunit stories, the film follows a group of high-profile guests invited to a fancy dinner, only to find themselves caught in a deadly game when their mysterious host turns up dead. With a storm raging outside and the realisation that the killer is among them, a detective and his partner attempt to unravel the mystery while simultaneously navigating the insanely quirky, competitive siblings and their fierce appetites for their recently deceased father's millions.
The cast delivers performances that are as over-the-top as the film’s premise. The eccentric mix of characters, ranging from a disgraced detective to a cutthroat socialite, keeps the energy high and the banter sharp. The screenplay is packed with witty dialogue and clever misdirection's, making it just as entertaining as it is suspenseful. While the film embraces the familiar tropes of a classic murder mystery, such as an old Victorian house, a storm outside, and an array of possible suspects, it throws in enough fresh twists to keep audiences guessing until the very last moment. The mix of intense orchestral music and cheesy sax helps drive the international of the scenes along. Michael Pare gives a sleek performance as Detective Noah Rafferty, playing his character with charm and confidence; the audience knows he’ll solve this crime as he oozes experience.
There are some sections, where both scenes and acting are borderline ridiculous where you will find yourself giggling. I think it’s nice to be able to laugh and not take this film so seriously. Some odd and unflattering close-up shots work among all the madness.
The pace of the film is strong, nothing feels dragged out or added scenes for padding purposes. With a runtime of one hour and forty minutes, it's enough to build suspense and intrigue and keep the audience invested.
Now, even though I am a fan of murder mysteries, it’s been proven time and time again that I could not be a detective as I never guessed the killer correctly. The same goes for this film - I had no idea. So you’ll either finish the film feeling incredibly smart as you’ve seen the clues, worked the case and found the perpetrator, or clueless and surprised, like me.
Whether you’re a fan of Knives Out, Clue, or Agatha Christie classics, Death 4 Dinner is a wickedly fun ride that keeps you on your toes. It’s smart, stylish, and packed with enough surprises to satisfy even the most seasoned mystery lover.
Out now on digital platforms
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