The whodunnit subgenre of mystery has seen a resurgence in recent years with the popularity of such films as Knives Out and its sequel Glass Onion, as well as the streaming series Only Murders in the Building. However, many of these modern whodunnits have been a comedic reversal on the tropes. FX and Hulu’s A Murder at the End of the World is a serious and ostensibly modern take on the genre, offering a truly unpredictable mystery thanks to its commitment to defying audience expectations.
A Murder at the End of the World follows a true crime author and amateur sleuth who, at a secluded retreat for some of the best creative minds the world has to offer, is thrust into action when there is a sudden murder. What is interesting about the approach of series creators Zal Batmanglij and Brit Marling is that they do not spend much time with the suspects, but focus more on the clues.
The show also follows a nonlinear structure, with frequent flashbacks to an earlier case solved by the protagonist. In fact, we are introduced to this case first, in medias res, as she narrates the ending of the case in a reading of the true crime novel she wrote about it. While this mystery is far less interesting than the one that lends its name to the show, it serves as a welcome reprieve to the intensity and fast pace of the main story, as well as an important vector of characterization.
A Murder at the End of the World is a fascinating new mystery thriller
Emma Corrin does an excellent job in the leading role, playing the character in a way that feels like a perfect amalgamation of so many other sleuth characters. The most obvious comparison is likely Lisbeth Salander, the heroine of the Millennium (The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo) series, owing to both characters’ propensity for technology; however, Corrin’s performance is filled with such a subtle mysteriousness of its own that they don’t feel like they’re playing the hero of the story, but another pawn in a complex game.
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Harris Dickinson is billed as the co-star of the series, but he feels utterly wasted. Even in the storyline in the past, where he plays a much bigger role, it doesn’t feel like he is given much to do. He certainly has the charm and allure to pull off being the protagonist’s romantic interest, but too frequently comes off as aloof, rather than perplexing as seemed to be the intent.
The rest of the supporting cast does have some bright spots. Clive Owen is fantastic as the billionaire tech mogul, with a deceptive streak that comes through sharper and sharper as the series goes on. Alice Braga is another highlight, playing a character that effectively becomes the protagonist’s sidekick in solving the mystery. Although others, like Jermaine Fowler and Joan Chen, aren’t given as much to do, they each have their own moments.
Admittedly, A Murder at the End of the World does get a bit heavy-handed when it comes to its themes. Throughout the show, some of the characters will go off on rants conveying their “Gen Z angst,” talking about issues like AI, the climate crisis, or how capitalism is destroying the world as we know it. While many of these comments do make sense in the context of these characters and this setting, it also feels like Batmanglij and Marling are writing this from a millennial perspective — not a Gen Z one.
From a technical standpoint, A Murder at the End of the World is great, immersing us into this secluded corner of the world in which it is set. The production design is the perfect combination of modern and futuristic, capturing the limbo-like state in which these events take place, and the editing does a great job of creating tension in the action.
A Murder at the End of the World is a gripping whodunnit, but not because of the reasons that you normally get intrigued by a mystery like this. Instead, you will be emotionally invested in the story of the protagonist, mostly because of a fantastic performance by lead actor Emma Corrin.
A Murder at the End of the World streams on Hulu beginning November 14, with new episodes streaming subsequent Tuesdays. Five out of seven episodes reviewed.
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Rating: 9/10
