This episode of the French series "Les Petits Meurtres d'Agatha Christie" adapts the Hercule Poirot story "Peril At End House", with one significant difference: Superintendent Larosière falls in love with the main female character, while Poirot falls under her spell in a more platonic way. Other than that, the story is pretty much the same, which makes the central deception of this tale blindingly obvious to anyone who has read the book or has seen the David Suchet version from 1991. Elsa Kikoine is well-cast, and the film is well-produced, but it plods almost unbearably. The ending, revealing the more human side of Larosière, is quite memorable, though. ** out of 4.
Les petits meurtres d'Agatha Christie (TV Series)
La Maison du Péril (2009)
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Peril at End House
TheLittleSongbird11 January 2019
Have mentioned many times about Agatha Christie being one of my favourite authors, my love for detective mysteries started actually from watching the Joan Hickson adaptation of 'A Murder is Announced'. Got recently acquainted with the French series 'Les Petits Meurtres D'Agatha Christie', after only hearing of its existence relatively recently, which is essentially loosely adapted Agatha Christie with a French light comedy-mystery twist. On its own terms it is fascinating and charming with intriguing stories as long as one doesn't expect complete fidelity.
Loosely based on 'Peril at End House', though structurally and in detail it is one of the more faithfully adapted episodes even when still a basic framework, "La Maison Du Peril" was a step down from the previous three episodes ("Am Stram Gram", based on 'Ordeal By Innocence', being the best of the three) and for me it's one of weaker faring Larossiere/Lampion episodes. There is enough of what makes the series as interesting as it is here in "La Maison Du Peril", but it didn't grab my attention as much as the previous three episodes. Which is a shame as it is based on a fine book, previously superbly adapted for the Poirot series with David Suchet.
Will start with the strengths. There is some handsome and evocative period detail, the colours sumptuous and vibrant that could be quite atmospheric when needed. The stylish photography complements lovingly. The music continues to match the light-hearted and at times very atmospheric tone very well. On the most part, the writing is thoughtful and attention grabbing with the right amount of entertainment value. Will agree that the ending is memorable, found it very powerful and the surprise factor is not lost.
Character is improving all the time, found the Larossiere in love subplot quite charming and it didn't take up too much of the episode. Larossiere and Lampion are still compelling and well contrasted characters, even though Larossiere continues to be the more interesting one of the two and liked his more human side here. Josephine is a well written and empathetic character. Antoine Dulery and Marius Colucci are still very strong as the two detectives and Elsa Kikoïne's performance as Josephine is one of the better supporting actor performances in the series in my view.
Did feel though that "La Maison Du Peril" did lack suspense and a lack of dread and one doesn't need to have read 'Peril at End House', actually a cleverly crafted mystery, to feel that there are not enough surprises. Those who have will admire that nothing is necessarily distorted, but still feel most likely that it is rather predictable and too conventional because there is not enough here to make it its own.
Also agree that the pace is an issue, with too much of the episode dragging badly. More imaginative direction, which is here okay but on the pedestrian and safe side, would have helped. The lighter elements still need to calm down.
On the whole, a bit lacking this time round. 5/10 Bethany Cox
Loosely based on 'Peril at End House', though structurally and in detail it is one of the more faithfully adapted episodes even when still a basic framework, "La Maison Du Peril" was a step down from the previous three episodes ("Am Stram Gram", based on 'Ordeal By Innocence', being the best of the three) and for me it's one of weaker faring Larossiere/Lampion episodes. There is enough of what makes the series as interesting as it is here in "La Maison Du Peril", but it didn't grab my attention as much as the previous three episodes. Which is a shame as it is based on a fine book, previously superbly adapted for the Poirot series with David Suchet.
Will start with the strengths. There is some handsome and evocative period detail, the colours sumptuous and vibrant that could be quite atmospheric when needed. The stylish photography complements lovingly. The music continues to match the light-hearted and at times very atmospheric tone very well. On the most part, the writing is thoughtful and attention grabbing with the right amount of entertainment value. Will agree that the ending is memorable, found it very powerful and the surprise factor is not lost.
Character is improving all the time, found the Larossiere in love subplot quite charming and it didn't take up too much of the episode. Larossiere and Lampion are still compelling and well contrasted characters, even though Larossiere continues to be the more interesting one of the two and liked his more human side here. Josephine is a well written and empathetic character. Antoine Dulery and Marius Colucci are still very strong as the two detectives and Elsa Kikoïne's performance as Josephine is one of the better supporting actor performances in the series in my view.
Did feel though that "La Maison Du Peril" did lack suspense and a lack of dread and one doesn't need to have read 'Peril at End House', actually a cleverly crafted mystery, to feel that there are not enough surprises. Those who have will admire that nothing is necessarily distorted, but still feel most likely that it is rather predictable and too conventional because there is not enough here to make it its own.
Also agree that the pace is an issue, with too much of the episode dragging badly. More imaginative direction, which is here okay but on the pedestrian and safe side, would have helped. The lighter elements still need to calm down.
On the whole, a bit lacking this time round. 5/10 Bethany Cox
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