I just finished watching Murder at the End of the World because I hate waiting a week between shows so I wait until the season is done and then binge it. I'm definitely glad I did that with this series because it's better as a binge watch. It will keep you guessing throughout the entire show. While it's almost impossible to guess who actually committed these murders, if you really pay attention you might be able to guess who's behind them and why. This series has so many gifted actors in this while all at the top of their game. Brit Marling not only stars in this but is also one of the writers and if you've seen any of Marling's stuff you know she always delivers. Besides the performances, they bring a lot of important subjects to the forefront like climate change and artificial intelligence.
247 Reviews
Good whodunit series
Rob13314 February 2024
As a big fan of whodunit type shows and movies I was really looking forward to Murder at the End of the World. It did not disappoint. First of all, what a cast. Clive Owen, Harris Dickinson, Emma Corrin, Brit Marling, Alice Braga, etc. With a cast like that you knew the acting was going to be on point so if the writing is good then you have yourself a good show. Well, the writing definitely holds up its end too. The show is about a Gen Z amateur sleuth/hacker named, Darby Hart (Corrin), as she attempts to solve the murder of her former boyfriend (Dickinson) at a secluded retreat with 8 other high profile guests. Corrin is coming off a Emmy nomination for her job in The Crown and she's just as good in this. She has a really bright future as an actress.
Good, not great, whodunit with sci-fi aspirations
gridoon20246 March 2024
There is a lot to praise about "A Murder At The End Of The World": the production design, the extraordinary location (Iceland - a feast for the eyes of any "winter person"), the hypnotic score, the convincing and committed performances, particularly from Emma Corrin who resembles a lot a young Jodie Foster. There are passages that speak about cell phones and technology more eloquently than I ever could but say exactly what I want to say. However, many of the secondary characters are not developed enough, and the overabundance of flashbacks deflates some of the tension in the "present" tense; the ending is OK but not mind-blowing. The series does not reach the heights of the best episodes of "The OA", the previous project by Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij, but like its predecessor, it at least represents the vision, flaws and all, of its creators and not of a studio executive conference. It's an "auteur" endeavor in an era of mass factory production, and that is commendable. 7/10.
No matter how much we advance, the moral of the story is the same
gabrielaaakorodi10 March 2024
If I watched this 15 years ago, Darby Hart would have easily become my heroine, the manic pixie girl of another generation. I really loved the character's quirkiness and fantastic wit, plus the relationship she and Bill share seems unique and very genuine.
I loved the unpredictability of the whodunit and the allegory with the real world where billionaires race to colonize the moon, to create save havens to retreat when the world they greadily blow up ends up uninhabitable. Each of the characters has been portrayed very well and Clive Owen plays the part of his life. Brit Marling is, as always, an unforgettable presence.
"This is too much and not enough." a line so geniously written that kind of sums up the whole series; because in a tale about the evolution of science and AI, the intrigue is set in motion due to the oldest conflict: men wanting to own, control and direct women.
I'm only sorry that this is a mini series and not a proper TV show with multiple seasons. Darby is like a contemporary Lisbeth Salander, but with less grit and more anchorage in gen z culture.
I loved the unpredictability of the whodunit and the allegory with the real world where billionaires race to colonize the moon, to create save havens to retreat when the world they greadily blow up ends up uninhabitable. Each of the characters has been portrayed very well and Clive Owen plays the part of his life. Brit Marling is, as always, an unforgettable presence.
"This is too much and not enough." a line so geniously written that kind of sums up the whole series; because in a tale about the evolution of science and AI, the intrigue is set in motion due to the oldest conflict: men wanting to own, control and direct women.
I'm only sorry that this is a mini series and not a proper TV show with multiple seasons. Darby is like a contemporary Lisbeth Salander, but with less grit and more anchorage in gen z culture.
But, the Hair!
jk8jj295 February 2024
I binged this in a weekend and overall I enjoyed it. There were many twists and turns, but there were also unlikely head scratching moments. I believe I enjoyed Darby more when she was younger and with Bill. I would not have minded more Joe Doe content, for sure. The setting in Iceland was interesting. I'd recommend it if you are looking for something new and you can suspend belief half of the time.
As an aside, I was bothered to distraction half the time over Darby's hair. Whoever was in charge of choosing her styles and continuity from one scene to the next missed the mark. When she was younger her, and Bill's hair for that matter, had terribly awful short bangs. Bill even had those same bangs later - what the what. Then Darby has plastered flat blonde hair that did not move and inch, ever. Finally she dyes it pink for a decent hairstyle for dinner, only to have that stylist inexplicably changed after she leaves the table. Later, it's wet, dry, parted then not, then shorter, then fluffed. I just could not stand it.
As an aside, I was bothered to distraction half the time over Darby's hair. Whoever was in charge of choosing her styles and continuity from one scene to the next missed the mark. When she was younger her, and Bill's hair for that matter, had terribly awful short bangs. Bill even had those same bangs later - what the what. Then Darby has plastered flat blonde hair that did not move and inch, ever. Finally she dyes it pink for a decent hairstyle for dinner, only to have that stylist inexplicably changed after she leaves the table. Later, it's wet, dry, parted then not, then shorter, then fluffed. I just could not stand it.
I expected just a little bit more
phantom_pixie10 February 2024
First off, I adore Brit Marling and all her work, I have been a big fan since Another Earth and her way of writing and directing along with acting is top par, (along with Zal Batmanglij and Mike Cahill) but maybe because I am familiar with her work I expected a little bit more from this show. At the end of the first episode is was obvious who the killer was and by mid-episode three is was obvious how it was done. After that it was just a wait to get to the end and the "reveal".
Apart from that the blueprint is classic Agatha Cristie, with a bunch of strangers isolated from the world and an amateur sleuth trying to solve the "whodunit" when one of them untimely dies. The setting is interesting and the location beautiful and quite original, the show is well worth a watch if you are into classic detective stories, I just wasn't so blown way by it as I expected going in.
Apart from that the blueprint is classic Agatha Cristie, with a bunch of strangers isolated from the world and an amateur sleuth trying to solve the "whodunit" when one of them untimely dies. The setting is interesting and the location beautiful and quite original, the show is well worth a watch if you are into classic detective stories, I just wasn't so blown way by it as I expected going in.
Not a great ending....
frostysgirl-327133 March 2024
Warning: Spoilers
My complaints about this series are firstly the lackluster ending. They give you a major shocker then it just fizzles! Secondly, Emma Corrin who portrayed Darby must have gone to the Kristen Stewart School of Acting. She had the same angst ridden expression the entire series. Lastly, I wish they would have did more character background stories with the supporting cast. They felt disconnected to the storyline until needed. No cohesion with them and the investigation. I mean you want to feel like everyone is a suspect but without the back stories of these characters, you're left feeling like no one is. Otherwise a solid 7.
Pretty good plot, intense and caught me off guard at times
halimjaffar15 February 2024
Warning: Spoilers
I must say this is one of the shows that captivate my attention as I am not into this kind of shows - thriller. The plot was slowly built and that make me more invested in the characters over time.
At one point, I was mad at Darby (Emma Corrin) when she was doing things at the spur of the moments and jeopardizing herself and Bill. In a way, she undermines women's intelligence and wit. But that just proves she was a good actress.
Another instance of that message was when Sian was driving recklessly but I realized she was trying to escape the storm. Pretty good show overall and I don't mind watching it again.
At one point, I was mad at Darby (Emma Corrin) when she was doing things at the spur of the moments and jeopardizing herself and Bill. In a way, she undermines women's intelligence and wit. But that just proves she was a good actress.
Another instance of that message was when Sian was driving recklessly but I realized she was trying to escape the storm. Pretty good show overall and I don't mind watching it again.
Quite captivating, but fails short at the end
grygong20 December 2023
The show is very interesting and different from the classic whodunnit series. It touches on modern subjects of climate change, hacking, AI, the tech industry clashing with art. It also contains a moving love story.
Most of the show keeps you in suspense, there are some great tension packed scenes.
The acting is also wonderful, both from the main actress and Clive Owen.
Unfortunately, as typical for the whodunnit genre - the ending leaves much to be desired. There are missed opportunities there which I won't go into to avoid spoilers.
Suffice to say that the last episode lacks tension and the characters make some, hm, peculiar choices.
I'd recommend for a watch in winter, under a blanket and with hot chocolate. But don't expect a masterpiece. It's interesting and mostly engaging, with some meaningful messages, but it's not perfect by any means.
Most of the show keeps you in suspense, there are some great tension packed scenes.
The acting is also wonderful, both from the main actress and Clive Owen.
Unfortunately, as typical for the whodunnit genre - the ending leaves much to be desired. There are missed opportunities there which I won't go into to avoid spoilers.
Suffice to say that the last episode lacks tension and the characters make some, hm, peculiar choices.
I'd recommend for a watch in winter, under a blanket and with hot chocolate. But don't expect a masterpiece. It's interesting and mostly engaging, with some meaningful messages, but it's not perfect by any means.
"A MURDER MYSTERY MEETS TECHNOLOGY AND WE MEETS OUR FUTURE"
devendralilke30 January 2024
A heartbreaking story, an investigation of lost women, A convention of reputed people across the world, A bunch of saint-type commentaries over the apocalypse of the world are saturated in this Sherlock Holmes-type contemporary whodunit. The makers deliver a fascinating idea while enlivening the mystery-suspense genre. A murder is at the center, where anyone could be the culprit. Emma Corrin is Incandescent, in the lead and her ingenious character is in finding the "who-do-it" person; whereas the beefy cast is also splendid. The technology assists in the whole mystery-solving adventure. The echo of A. I. makes its presence felt. The blistering cold snow landscapes make a shivering impact, and the Cinematography & Editing keep bypassing through the past and present very flawlessly. The show finds its heart in its inclusive, riveting story and its mystifying screenplay, meticulously encrypted and intriguingly decrypted with timely, thought-provoking insights for us. The show tries to reflect our versions in this modern-day world as well as it's like a tale of a dark web. The show ranges from thrilling beats to a heart-rending experience also. After the whooping revelation in its groovy climax, one shall genuinely take a moment to think of their own present life, internally as well as externally. The world is changing, but is it for better or worse?
For a hacker, Darby doesn't seem to be very smart
moorejw-5241523 November 2023
Warning: Spoilers
In fact, she seems incredibly reckless. Prying into private information using the billionaire's personal AI program is clearly going to come back and bite her in the ass. She also was speaking WAY too loud when she was talking to Lee while they were all watching a movie. That is the worst time to try and have a private conversation. Someone obviously heard her.
I'm pretty sure the ending will be that the serial killer is Lee, Andy, or Martin. And obviously Bill is the real father of Lee's son.
Overall, the pace is far too slow. They really could have cut the episodes down to 45 minutes. I love me some Clive Owen, so I'll continue watching and see what happens.
I'm pretty sure the ending will be that the serial killer is Lee, Andy, or Martin. And obviously Bill is the real father of Lee's son.
Overall, the pace is far too slow. They really could have cut the episodes down to 45 minutes. I love me some Clive Owen, so I'll continue watching and see what happens.
Had promise. Failed to deliver.
nonayubiz16 December 2023
Such a great cast. An a wonderful setting, in Iceland. But good God, Darby is an irritating character, and they spend much too much time dwelling on her mournful eyes as she works her way up to her next dumb move, and not enough time on the plot.
The entire series is devoted to plumbing the depths of Darby's character as she tries to stay ahead of the killer. Only problem is, she has no depths. Just those mournful eyes and a frail body.
It's a shame to see such a great cast so underused.
This series is a draft, and needed a lot more editing. The acting can't overcome the bad writing.
Watch it for the scenery, the lush production values. It's enough to make me want to go to Iceland. But don't watch it for the plot or the characters.
The entire series is devoted to plumbing the depths of Darby's character as she tries to stay ahead of the killer. Only problem is, she has no depths. Just those mournful eyes and a frail body.
It's a shame to see such a great cast so underused.
This series is a draft, and needed a lot more editing. The acting can't overcome the bad writing.
Watch it for the scenery, the lush production values. It's enough to make me want to go to Iceland. But don't watch it for the plot or the characters.
Not your grandmother's Agatha Christie...
fanofmovies12420 December 2023
Warning: Spoilers
I commend Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij for attempting to create their own version of a true whodunit-Agatha Christie style. The only problem is they failed. One of the elements of Christie's stories that is instrumental to its success is the development of characters; most of the characters in this show were there for window dressing, wasting the talents of Joan Chen, Raúl Esparza, Jermaine Fowler, and to some extent Alice Braga, as well as others. As a result, none of the (extraneous) characters seem like viable murderers. Also, the show seemingly veers into creepy-Elon Musk and his bizarre custody battle with singer Grimes midshow: is this a murder mystery or a custody battle concerning the world's greatest megalomaniac? Ugh. And then there's the american accents of non-American actors.... STOP CASTING NON-AMERICANS AS AMERICANS. THEIR ACCENTS ARE NEVER GOOD. Emma Corrin's Rs gave her away with almost every word and her portrayal lacked soul. Is this watchable? Yes, but it would be better as 4 episodes or a movie.
Excellent show
rickwriter-144-5395816 February 2024
Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij have done it again. Another truly superb show. I try to watch everything that their hands touch because they are incredibly imaginative and creative. I first learned of them when they did The OA, which was also excellent.
This show, Murder at the End of the World, is really very well done. Great acting, intriguing plot line, good scenery, etc. As others have said, the show will keep you guessing. At various times, I thought I knew where it was going, but I didn't until they exposed the actual villain.
The only slightly unfortunate piece of the show is that the hotel in which the action occurs doesn't exist; it's just a CGI construct. Too bad, as it looked quite cool.
Anyway - great show. Highly recommended.
This show, Murder at the End of the World, is really very well done. Great acting, intriguing plot line, good scenery, etc. As others have said, the show will keep you guessing. At various times, I thought I knew where it was going, but I didn't until they exposed the actual villain.
The only slightly unfortunate piece of the show is that the hotel in which the action occurs doesn't exist; it's just a CGI construct. Too bad, as it looked quite cool.
Anyway - great show. Highly recommended.
Another stellar series ruined by the last episode
julieshotmail23 December 2023
As soon as I see Emma Corrin channeling a young Jodie Foster, I'm game. The resemblance, facial expressions, and certain vocal tones are uncanny! Foster is one of the elites but Corrin does hold her own. She is excellent. "A Murder at the End of the World" sports a brooding, beautiful cinematography to match the mystery and darkness hovering over the characters. There is a mix of action, horror, family drama, and "Black Mirror" type themes. The episodes adequately hum along, thanks to a solid supporting cast. However, the very last episode seems to have given up and resorts to a mere monologue explaining the mystery. No challenge; no joy. Disappointing. Not to mention the juvenile ending that is almost laughable. Still, I give it 7 stars for the buildup in the first six episodes.
Enjoyable!
emailgregsmith21 December 2023
Just finished watching the complete series. I don't agree with the negative reviews that have been posted here. I don't like to second-guess anyone, but I think people are overreacting to what is, to my mind, a well balanced, and enjoyable story, nicely paced, and well told. The relationship between Darby and Bill, with his passion and problems, rings true for me. And I especially enjoyed Darby's backstory as the daughter of a corner, and an amateur sleuth. It's certainly far better than most series that are thrown together in the endless land of streaming. Believable acting, nice twist at the end. Certainly not the best series ever made. But in my opinion, well worth the investment, from first episode to last. Well done.
Emma Corrin is a young Jodie Foster
lasasala20 November 2023
A new twist on an old standard.
Isolate the rich and famous then pick them off one by one. Throw in some tech, add some exotic landscapes, then make your lead sleuth a reclusive, Asperger-y 20-something and you've got the makings for a nice, creepy mystery.
The cast is terrific: Emma Corrin and Clive Owen are the dream team this movie needs.
The editing is stellar, seamlessly cutting between the timelines to create a nice trajectory. The set is gorgeous-for some reason, it's giving me Ex-Machina vibes.
I'm two episodes in and I'm invested.
Thanks NYT for leading me to this series. I love a good mystery!
Isolate the rich and famous then pick them off one by one. Throw in some tech, add some exotic landscapes, then make your lead sleuth a reclusive, Asperger-y 20-something and you've got the makings for a nice, creepy mystery.
The cast is terrific: Emma Corrin and Clive Owen are the dream team this movie needs.
The editing is stellar, seamlessly cutting between the timelines to create a nice trajectory. The set is gorgeous-for some reason, it's giving me Ex-Machina vibes.
I'm two episodes in and I'm invested.
Thanks NYT for leading me to this series. I love a good mystery!
Modern Agatha Christie.
alexmaister-3814629 January 2024
Great serie, not the best but still enjoyable with an amazing ending. In one sentence I would describe this serie as a modern version of Agatha Christie.
Things I liked: well the acting was good with an amazing Clive Owen. The cinematography was also nice with beautiful views. Personally I loved the ending, it was something that I didn't expect and the way they handled it was very clever.
Things I didn't like: some of the episodes were quite long with meaningless boring scenes, they could avoid a few of them easily without affecting the plot. Also I found the rest of the cast (the other guests) as extras without any background story or at least some more lines. In the beginning you have the idea that their role is important in the story but instead of that the most of them are there just for you to think about who is gonna be the killer, nothing more.
The mark which I would give is 8/10 because after all I enjoyed the serie and I loved the ending(as I said many times) which is a huge plus for series in this category.
Things I liked: well the acting was good with an amazing Clive Owen. The cinematography was also nice with beautiful views. Personally I loved the ending, it was something that I didn't expect and the way they handled it was very clever.
Things I didn't like: some of the episodes were quite long with meaningless boring scenes, they could avoid a few of them easily without affecting the plot. Also I found the rest of the cast (the other guests) as extras without any background story or at least some more lines. In the beginning you have the idea that their role is important in the story but instead of that the most of them are there just for you to think about who is gonna be the killer, nothing more.
The mark which I would give is 8/10 because after all I enjoyed the serie and I loved the ending(as I said many times) which is a huge plus for series in this category.
Flawed, captivating, unique. Let's see how it ends.
pasmwut9 December 2023
Before I review I am writing this after only seeing 5 episodes. I will declare I think Brit Marling and anything she's involved in writing and creating is going to be suspenseful and shocking. I also think if she wanted to, she could easily be a huge actor but I respect her vision and execution, always...
This show has some really fascinating stuff going on, much more than a whodunnit. The performances are better than the show which is really interesting. The issue I have is that the main character seems WAY to trusting at the resort, but she should be on high alert from even before the murder in the title happens. After it's a little frustrating but it still is impossible to not get sucked in.
The main issue I have heard people mention is the past flashbacks are elite and the present timeline is pretty good but if the mystery isn't handled well in the end the show will feel like a large waste of time.
This show has some really fascinating stuff going on, much more than a whodunnit. The performances are better than the show which is really interesting. The issue I have is that the main character seems WAY to trusting at the resort, but she should be on high alert from even before the murder in the title happens. After it's a little frustrating but it still is impossible to not get sucked in.
The main issue I have heard people mention is the past flashbacks are elite and the present timeline is pretty good but if the mystery isn't handled well in the end the show will feel like a large waste of time.
Great series. Unique and not basic
NuFLDU16 February 2024
Warning: Spoilers
The series is wonderful! I am gifted with excellent taste in series and this is one of the best I've seen in a long time. The characters, the writing, plot and storyline. It kept me guessing at every turn and for someone who instantly solves a good mystery I couldn't see the ending of this one. The show is deep so what seemed like the obvious answer was very doubtful that it is. On top of everything else the fact that it speaks of what AI is and the fears of what if could become. It's modern techy murder mystery romantic dramatic and scary all in one.... Watching it felt like a wonderful ride.
Entertaining, but the ending?
afalez20 December 2023
Warning: Spoilers
I will keep this short. It was enteraining, enjoyable, and quite captivating. However, I wonder how much of its capitvation was due solely to the weekly release of episodes. I love movies about tech, hacking, et cetera, as I am personally involved in it. Love Clive Owen. When Andy took everybody on the hike to the top of the mountain to see the robots building the other silo, I wish the show had, not necessarily been guided in this direction, but touched on it more to some degree. Pretty disgusted by the lengthy flashback in episode 6, which was redundant and repeated what was shown in an earlier in episode scene-for-scene if I am not mistaken... Lastly, the ending was written with such little effort. AI is dangerous. This blatant fiction, yet the need to forcefully remind myself that the end was written for the purpose of entertainment only, ruined it for me. Even though it is fiction, there are so many ways in which this could have concluded other than the predictable propaganda that AI is threatening. There was a bunch of foreshadowing, which was cleverly written, leading up to the ending. That said, both the cleverness of the foreshadowing and its proximity being too near to the end cast its own shadow of disappointment on the ending. The end also felt a bit rushed, certainly incongruent with the rest of the show's rhythm, and thus anticlimactic. Anyways, this could have been several magnitudes greater had the writers taken their time in wrapping it up.
Great cinematography, extremely poor writing
nyaaien28 November 2023
This series boasts exceptional cinematography and a compelling musical score, complemented by commendable acting performances. However, the narrative's sluggish tempo and unengaging storyline overshadow these merits.
Despite Emma Corrin's proven acting prowess, the role falls short of showcasing her full potential.
The supporting characters lack depth, contributing to an overall uninspired ensemble. The dialogues often come across as overly simplistic and foreseeable, detracting from the show's credibility.
It seems the show may be tailored for a Gen Z audience or younger, yet it misses the mark, resulting in a disappointing misuse of talent and resources.
Despite Emma Corrin's proven acting prowess, the role falls short of showcasing her full potential.
The supporting characters lack depth, contributing to an overall uninspired ensemble. The dialogues often come across as overly simplistic and foreseeable, detracting from the show's credibility.
It seems the show may be tailored for a Gen Z audience or younger, yet it misses the mark, resulting in a disappointing misuse of talent and resources.
Ok
majaguara18 November 2023
Without a doubt, the ratings are too high; initially, they were higher than Breaking Bad... evidently paid for. IMDB should have a way to detect this.
In any case, half of the first episode is unwatchable because the image is so dark that nothing can be seen. Furthermore, aside from scenes in Iceland, we're mainly forced to watch the main character endlessly clicking a mouse and staring at a computer. We have to read her text messages and analyze what's on the computer screen - oh, come on... There are also many cringeworthy or grotesque moments for such an expensive series, such as when she receives an invitation from Andy and connects with friends to discuss it. The acting is very poor, and the dialogues feel artificial in that scene.
And finally, technologically, it's sometimes amusingly outdated or simply stupid.
In any case, half of the first episode is unwatchable because the image is so dark that nothing can be seen. Furthermore, aside from scenes in Iceland, we're mainly forced to watch the main character endlessly clicking a mouse and staring at a computer. We have to read her text messages and analyze what's on the computer screen - oh, come on... There are also many cringeworthy or grotesque moments for such an expensive series, such as when she receives an invitation from Andy and connects with friends to discuss it. The acting is very poor, and the dialogues feel artificial in that scene.
And finally, technologically, it's sometimes amusingly outdated or simply stupid.
Beautifully shot and interesting story
alexandervkeulen25 January 2024
A Murder at the End of the World captivates from the start with impeccable casting, delivering performances that breathe life into the characters. The production and cinematography are nothing short of beautiful, enhancing the overall viewing experience. The series takes a fascinating dive into the realm of AI, offering a thought-provoking glimpse into the future. It seamlessly weaves a compelling narrative, making it a must-watch for those intrigued by the intersection of technology and storytelling. I'm kind of confused by the negative reviews I saw on there. I recommend watching the show for yourself.
After a Decent Start, Becomes a Predictable Mess
seemingly_reel19 December 2023
After watching until the end, here's my take on this series. All around, it's got a good cast, but the script undervalued some characters. Due to the writing's stale nature in certain episodes, most secondary characters come off as one-dimensional. There is a sincere connection between Darby and Bill (portrayed by Corrin and Dickinson), and their relationship could have been explored even more. By the time the final episode came around, it resembled many limited series: it felt rushed, conveniently wraps things up, and the dialogue was utterly predictable. The overarching plot is fine, but the philosophical points on technology (spelled out in episode 7) did not express anything new, and some dialogue was unintentionally humorous. Another weak spot: the camera spent entirely too much time on Corrin's face. Granted, she's got a wonderful profile and her androgynous look is intriguing, but that's no excuse. The other characters and the stark Icelandic land forms deserved much more screen time. The camera loves Corrin, but it could love other characters just as much. Okay, tell me: which Beatle was your favorite, and why?
See also
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