The Thursday Murder Club (2025) takes us on a murderously good time tracking down cold cases in a retirement home. At least at first. Soon the cases move from old unsolved ones to a few real-time cases. It seems that the owners of this particular retirement home are not highbrow members of society.
This offering, based upon Richard Osman’s book series of the same name, is a delightful treat. A world featuring old age pensioners (OAPs) who refuse to give up. Netflix gives us another “fairy tale” image of retired Brits who are charming as they are devious.
The story of The Thursday Murder Club
Newcomer Joyce meets three stalwart and eccentric retired folks at her new home. They join forces to initially solve a cold case. Soon, as bodies begin to drop around them, the quartet of aged sleuths have real cases to solve.
The Main Cast
Helen Mirren is Elizabeth.
Pierce Brosnan is Ron.
Ben Kingsley is Ibrahim.
Celia Imrie is Joyce.
Naomi Ackie is PC Donna de Freitas.
Daniel Mays is DCI Daniel Hudson.
Henry Lloyd-Hughes is Bogdan.
David Tennant is Ian Ventham.
And the Rest
Jonathan Pryce is Stephen.
Tom Ellis is Jason.
Geoff Bell is Tony Curran.
Paul Freeman is John.
Blink and You’ll Miss em Cameo
Richard E Grant is Bobby Tanner.
Let’s Talk The Thursday Murder Club
That brilliant director Chris Columbus takes us to the world of the “well off” retired folks living in Coopers Chase. These are the high end retired folks. It is no wonder they are willing to fight false teeth and nail to keep the place from closing. Inasmuch as this is not your average retirement home for the aged, the film works wonderfully.
*My second wife worked in a retirement home in the UK. It too was housed in a large mansion. Unlike Coopers Chase, the place was small inside. Residents live in tiny rooms with little furniture. Not the opulent space allotted the inhabitants of this retirement home.*
Despite this leap from reality, the story works. As all these folks are upper echelon retired. Elizabeth who retired from MI6 is the top of this little tree. However, the other members of this club are also quite well off. Except for Joyce, a nurse. It is her very well off daughter who foots the bill.
Agatha Christie introduced the world to Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot, making English murder mysteries addictive. We like our British detectives, the more eccentric the better, and this aged group fits that bill nicely.
Cast is King and Queen
The cast here is marvelous. Mirren and Brosnan, who must surely be tired of working together, are on top form here. Kingsley, Imrie and Pryce are always good value for money. It was lovely to see personal favorite Tom Ellis here as well as Paul Freeman.
*Anyone else notice how Freeman looks like the late Edward Woodward in this one? See Hot Fuzz for a visual reference. *
Naomi Ackie is a delight as the new police constable as is Daniel Mays as the over eating DCI. Geoff Bell is always a welcome addition to any cast as is the brilliant Richard E Grant.
David Tennant gives good bad guy.
The Verdict
While reality is not really present in this fanciful murder mystery for the aged, the film does entertain. It is funny, clever and witty. A combination that is hard to come by these days. The Thursday Murder Club offers us the best of modern British actors. The entire endeavor shows, once again, how this island rules in terms of talent.
This is a solid 5 star effort and well worth the time spent watching it. Netflix owns this one, lock, stock and barrel. Head on over and catch this one, you will not regret it. I promise.
*A personal note. I adore Mirren here. Her Irish harridan in MobLand annoyed the ever loving life out of me. There, I said it.*
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