Dead Man's Folly

This week's sharpest crime pick is Dead Man's Folly. A tight runtime that never overstays its welcome. Its 6/10 TMDB score, built from 60 ratings, reflects a title that consistently delivers. Peter Ustinov's performance alone is worth the time investment. There is no real reason to keep putting it off.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, Dead Man's Folly earns its spot. The plotting in Dead Man's Folly is tight enough that the twists feel earned rather than assembled. During a murder hunt game at a country house, to which Hercule Poirot is invited as an "expert", a real murder occurs. Peter Ustinov and Jean Stapleton lead a cast that gives the tension real weight. It was released in 1986. Dead Man's Folly is at its best in the quiet scenes between the plot beats, where the character work actually happens. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

If you cannot walk away from a good mystery, Dead Man's Folly will keep you hooked. If you have run out of similar titles to watch, this is a strong next pick. A contained runtime means every scene is doing real work. Peter Ustinov carries scenes that would sink a lesser production. The resolution feels inevitable rather than arbitrary, which is rarer than it sounds.

Dead Man's Folly was released in 1986, directed by Clive Donner. The full 90-minute film is available to watch now. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just search the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.