See How They Run (2022)

See How They Run is a fizzy, lovingly crafted whodunit that treats 1950s London like a glittering stage—all footlights, cigarette smoke, and sly winks at the genre—while still delivering a genuinely satisfying mystery. Tom George keeps the tone buoyant and playful, and the film’s real magic is the double-act at its center: Sam Rockwell’s rumpled, world-weary inspector sparring with Saoirse Ronan’s bright-eyed constable, whose comic timing and earnest momentum make every scene snap to attention. The ensemble swirls around them with theatrical charm, and the humor lands because it comes from character, not cheap mugging, even as the story keeps tossing out deliciously suspicious motives. If you want a hard-edged, grim crime drama, this isn’t that kind of night at the movies—but if you’re in the mood for a stylish, witty mystery that feels like a backstage pass to a very clever party, it’s an easy ticket to buy.

See How They Run is clearly trying to be a cheeky, meta whodunit love letter to 1950s theatre and Agatha Christie-style mysteries, with a glossy coat of style and a wink in every other line. The problem is the actual mystery isn’t as sharp as the film wants you to think it is, so the constant self-awareness can start to feel like it’s distracting from a puzzle that’s a bit thin. The pacing also meanders, leaning on quirky asides and atmosphere when you’re really waiting for the story to click into place. Still, Sam Rockwell’s dry weariness and Saoirse Ronan’s eager energy make for a genuinely fun pairing, so if you’re here for charming performances and period vibes more than a brainy, airtight case, you’ll probably have a better time than the title suggests.