Spoilers
this is a go to in the sherwin house it really is. We all adore it & just think it’s perfect so much that when my sister txt to say what are you watching this Sunday night & I said keeping mum she said wait hang on & she went & found her copy & watched it almost at the same time as us hehe. It really is one of those most perfect British films, that the rest of the world just dont get but we all love & can recognise someone we know in it (okay maybe not a murderer). So lets get into this shall we.
No one missed a beat in this film in the acting at all from the get go from the moment you see that train to the view of the pond at the end. Every single person acts their arses off & you can tell watching it that they all really loved the script & had soo much fun & a nice time making it. Its one of those films that didnt look like anyone had to do a days work at all & that vibe just makes you smile & laugh with them through out.
I love that Maggie Smith who seems all nice as this house keeper called Grace & is all sweet & everything & yet we know from the moment that case turns up at the house that shes the original Rosie & that trouble will be happening. & then all the deaths she commits during the film, it just makes you smile that a staple of British cinema is killing people off left right & centre. & then is just like well i guess ill use the pond again & lets all have a cuppa tea. That is my favourite thing about British films, that Tea solves everything. It really really does (except a migraine in my case).
Rowan as Walter the Vicar has the biggest character Arch but is the one who is least affected by the murders due to being to involved in his job to see the world for what it really is & then having his epiphany at the convention. I mean the highlight is the giggle with god dad jokes that he goes through. It wonderful & when hes just chuckling to himself is so something my dad would do to & you just sit there & go yes thats perfect. ITs nice that he does realise that as much as he is devoted to god his family & life happening in front of him is a lot more important & that therefore means his Church in Little Wallop (what a name for a village by the way) returns to its former glory.
Cod will just have to wait for their own convention…
Patrick Swayze (god bless that man) & his Love Pouch…. I think thats all i need to say on the man.
Okay i do need to go further with that dont I. I love that he sees it al las a game & is a perv & is just so dominant & you really should hate him for filming Holly & trying to have an affair & being a sleaze ball & you should be so grateful & happy when he dies (in the film not real life) but you just cant help but love him & want to see what hes going to do next. Especially after that phone call with Rosie. But the Love Pouch…. is he crowning moment of the film.
I love that noone can remember who Hollys boyfriend is as theres about 6 throughout the film & they are all different types of men to. Shes properly going through a teenage swing & is all-over the place with her hormones & he relationship with her mum. It does remind me of me & my friends when we were younger & in high school.
The bullying story about Peter is good because it does happen in every school & makes you realise its a huge problem. but may not dont have your house keeper cut the bullies breaks on their bike & then make you say Broccoli to crash them & concuss them. But it shows how confidence in adversary goes a long way.
Liz Smith & her flower arranging committee just constant popping up & being a peeping tom the entire film is brilliant. Every small village & street has some one like that. & thats what makes the film so British.
The football game is there to make sure we know where the plots going to go but he is so atrocious in goal, that you do stop there & laugh. Also why do they only play football once a year against there neighbour village. bit odd.
I love that we always know theres an issue with the water table (such a small thing in a film & a very minor subplot) but its only at the end when they say its got to be drained when you realise this was the plot all along & that the guys have got to die to stop the bodies being found in there (back to making some tea again).
When i first saw this a teenage when it was revealed the Grace was Rosie & Rosie was Gloria’s mother, i was in shock. I know ive seen it countless times since, but all the hints are there over the entire film. The photo showing, the chat about fathers, mentioning being an orphan, its all there hiding in plain sight. Its just a shame they are all at each other throats trying to work out if she did kill everyone when its revelaled.
How did you know about the other bodies? What other bodies? oh so you didnt know about them… Brilliant line.
Oh Mr Brown is down under, ends up becoming he lives in Australia now. I love that how one comment lead to whole village believing hed emigrated when he was actually at the bottom of the pond.
Just the feel of rural brits village life is just so right. I live in the biggest village in Europe so its not that rural & we have a huge city 15mins away, but its just that feel which a s a village girl you sit there & you go yea thats us down to a tea. They have nailed it.
Its just the perfect sit down with the rest of your wine after a roast dinner film on a sunday evening & watch keeping mum to warm you up & make you smile before you go to bed film. ITs funny easy watching which once youve seen it you will want to tell everyone about & make everyone want to watch it.
This will always be up there as one of my lesser known favourite films. Now shall i put the kettle on…