Review of 'Evil Under the Sun'

When the master detective Hercule Poirot (Peter Ustinov) is hired by an insurance company to determine why millionaire Sir Horace Blatt (Colin Blakely) would ask that a fake diamond be insured he learns the real original was purchased by Sir Horace for his mistress actress, Arlena Marshall (Diana Rigg). Poirot is convinced to travel to a hotel on a sun-soaked island in the Mediterranean to investigate the mystery but, as you might expect there will be “evil” under the sun with Arlena's seemingly impossible murder as she sun bathed on a secluded beach. There are many suspects: The owner of the hotel is Daphne Castle (Maggie Smith) where Arlena is honeymooning with her step-daughter Linda (Emily Hone) and husband Kenneth (Denis Quilley) who is old friends with Daphne; Theatre producers Odell (James Mason) and Myra Gardener (Sylvia Miles) are struggling financially having their production abandoned by Arlena; Writer Rex Brewster (Roddy McDowall) is facing financial ruin after his biography of Arlena is rejected by her.

Despite the impressive cast, this is a typical stilted 1980s affair that tries to evoke the 1930s-era book by Agatha Christie but utterly fails. The character portrayal is completely over the top, one dimensional, not one of them endearing even despite the best efforts of Ustinov who I still have a soft spot for despite his horrendous Belgium accent. The stilted acting is lack-lustre and uninspired and, most damningly, the film is not all that fun or entertaining to watch with the only reason the viewer has to continue watching is to simply see who did it. Of course, that is the best part here: The amazing story and first-rate plot despite the first-rate actors not exactly shining in their roles. It is troubling to see actors so mis-used in such ensemble films of the time - Perhaps stars on their decline? Sadly, this could not have helped.

Disappointing acting but a great mystery.

Rating: “Average, but who wants to be average?”

Review Date: 2025-01-26

Directed by: Guy Hamilton

Studio: EMI Films

Year: 1982

Length: 117 minutes

Genre: Melodrama

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083908/