The Cultured Criminal (2012) User Reviews

When good cons go bad

[wallaceburgmartialarts · 10/10 · 17 October 2013]

"The Cultured Criminal" is a character driven, historical reenactment of a rather sensational murder mystery, based on the real life trial of con man Reginald Birchall. Birchall had a great con going in Canada, swindling British aristocrats - leaving a big WHY? The film itself is truly a venture in minimalism. The great appeal, for me, is, that like a book, you need your imagination to fill in the scenery and the blanks. The upside is, unlike a book, you see the characters faces and expressions. Also, like a book, the majority of the film is starkly black and white. If your looking for a sensational murder mystery with special effects, flashbacks and all the other gimmicks of popular films, you won't find them here. I'm shy of the term 'art house' films, so I will just leave this as a good murder mystery worth the time to watch, and enjoyed as much for the educational value as the historical.

A real-life murder mystery

[nuanda05 · 9/10 · 4 November 2013]

This is a fascinating little piece of rural Ontario's history. In 1890, the story of Reginald Birchall made headlines not only in Canada, but around the world. "The Cultured Criminal" looks at the reasons Birchall was believed to be a murderer, but also at the factors that cast some doubt as to his guilt. Watching the film, you are able to empathize with the characters, and to imagine what the townspeople, the jury, and Birchall and his wife went through during the trial. The question remains: Was Birchall guilty of murder? With the modest, yet effective, use of sets and props, the historical costumes, the interesting camera angles, the pops of colour on the black and white footage, and the excellent acting, this is a unique film that is definitely worth the watch!