Better Late Then Never

Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

Yes, absolutely, there is fun to be had, as well as many, many things to go boom, all amid an atmospheric urban jungle.

Poirot and Hastings set off for a well earned holiday in St Looe, Cornwall. At the hotel Poirot twists his ankle and is helped by the gorgeous Magdela 'Nick' Buckley. She tells her story, her beautiful nearby home End House falls into disrepair, more seriously, she's escaped several deadly accidents. Another 'accident' happens in front of Poirot's eyes, a bee flies past her, but on closer inspection the bee has left a bullet hole. Poirot returns the hat, and explains his fears. Poirot takes a personal interest in the safety of Nick, he insists she has someone close to her, she calls for her cousin Maggie Buckley. During a firework show at End house, tragedy strikes, Maggie is found dead, wearing Nick's shawl. The first feature length episode is such a goody, the first in a format that we'd come to love for many a year. I understand there were a few amendment from the book, but they are so minor, it's a very faithful adaptation.I love the whole chocolate poisoning sequence, it looks so effective, re-written from the book, but it works so well.The highlight of the episode is undoubtedly the ending, the revelation sequences work incredibly well, they are very poignant.The scenery is breathtaking, it is such a beautiful setting. The episode is a visual treat, the scenes in the hotel, the clothes, Freddie in particular gets to wear some great outfits. Wonderful music throughout, it feels so authentic.Polly Walker literally left me speechless in this episode, one of her very first TV appearances, she is absolutely spellbinding, terribly sweet throughout. When I read the book, she is the character I see in my mind's eye.Miss Lemon is particularly good, at last we get to see her glammed up, and her séance scenes are brilliant.For anyone seeing this mystery for the first time, and unaware of the plot the solution will come as a surprise, it's such a cleverly written story.I think it's an excellent episode, truly enjoyable. 8/10

"Poirot" was able to do two things simultaneously. It was able to raise some of Christie's lesser and even awful Poirot stories to a high level; and it was able to make a hash out of some of Christie's best Poirot stories (one of the best mystery novels ever, THE MURDER OF ROGER ACKROYD, was really a disgusting effort of trouncing Christie, worse even than any of the later and less careful treatments of Conan Doyle in Jeremy Brett's "Sherlock Holmes" -- a show that was letter perfect when it started but, like "Poirot", really crashed toward the end).While "Poirot" excelled in dealing with Christie's short stories than her novels occasionally, in some weird synchronicity, Christie's better stories and novels were exceptionally well done by Suchet and crowd.PERIL AT END HOUSE is one of my favorite Christie books. It's a pleasure to meet and mingle with the world-weary post-World War I characters who might have stepped right out of John Monk Saunders THE SINGLE LADY, Hemingway's THE SUN ALSO RISES, or Fitzgerald's GREAT GATSBY. But instead of leading pointless, party lives, Christie livens them up by pitching them right into the middle of a mystery.But this is not your run-of-the-mill Christie. Rather than having a murder at the start and introducing a lot of shady characters with equal motives, this time the mystery is: who is trying to kill the beautiful, but penurious, young owner of End House, Nick Buckley? Poirot is trying to stop a crime before it is committed. But has he arrived on the scene in time to stop a murder? And is there a crime at all, or is it all in Miss Buckley's vivid imagination? Nick's blase best friend, who always seems on the verge of saying "I'll take vanilla", tells Poirot none of it is really happening, that it's all in her mind. After all, why would anyone want to murder a happy young woman with nothing to her name except a heavily-mortgaged old house? The story is crowded with the usual Christiesque suspects (a lawyer cousin who might be next-of-kin; an overly-cheery Aussie couple; a naval officer with no money -- but an expensive yacht; etc.) but this two-part story really belongs to Polly Walker's blithe young owner of a decrepit mansion who has to be persuaded to beware for her life; and to David Suchet, whose Poirot gets off some of his best quips (and facial expressions). Hugh Fraser's Hastings, usually good for a few laughs or for the incisive ordinary person's view, is particularly dim in this episode.So one of Christie's better books becomes one of Suchet's better turns as Poirot. Go figure.

I had a little trouble finding this production on IMDB because I was looking for a recent entry, I find it hard to believe this movie is 14 yrs old as I write this. David Suchet is ageless. I won't so much comment on this episode as I will on the series in general. There are some who think a 2 hr Poirot movie is about 1 hr too long. I don't agree. For those of us who appreciate beautiful and intriguing locations - this is it. For those who appreciate period planes, cars, and especially wardrobe - this is it. There is a flavor and atmosphere about this series that reminds one of the Jeremy Brett version of Sherlock Holmes or The Great Gatsby. Not so much the period as the loving attention to detail.I admit that these entries can be hard to follow. If you have a tendency to nod out or run to the fridge for a snack, you will probably lose it. If you are looking for blood and gore or high energy explosions, tune into the latest Bruce Willis flick. Poirot makes you think. You have no choice. A&E has been importing these English mysteries to the US for years. Film food for thinking people. If the Brits can do it, why can't we. Hollywood was the benchmark for quality film production since the silent days. Today, our movies are digitized and cartoon like. We have forgotten how to tell a story. We have sacrificed originality and quality for the corporate bottom line. Shame on us.As for this particular story, it's as convoluted as the others. We have the whole ensemble. Poirot, Hastings, Miss Lemon, and Inspector Giapp. As for the other principals, they are competent and professional - just as you would expect. One little quirk worth mentioning. Although the female leads are interesting to watch, they usually fall into one of two categories. They are either cute and coquettish or intimidating and horsey. This movie is no exception. This is not a criticism, it's a compliment. It disproves the theory that you have to inject a traditional sexpot into the movie to fill some kind of void. These imports along with Inspector Frost, Inspector Barnaby, Sherlock Holmes, Cracker, and a few others provide a touch of class that we seem to have lost. I urge anyone who needs a break from the mindless junk we are being fed in prime time, to tune in. You will be rewarded - and with luck, be transported back to a kinder and gentler time when a mystery was a mystery.

One of the very few well made TV movies produced in the last 10 years, Peril at End House features the wonderful David Suchet as Hercule Poirot, along with the other regulars from the A&E series (Hugh Fraser as Hastings, Philip Jackson as Inspector Japp, and Pauline Moran as Miss Lemon). This film also marks the debut of the divine Ms. Polly Walker (the most beautiful actress that almost nobody has heard of). She plays Nick Buckley, the owner of End House that someone is trying to murder!I am a huge fan of the Poirot Series, and this two hour installment is truly a delight. It features beautiful scenery, a well paced and engaging story, and solid acting from almost every cast member. Suchet is THE perfect Poirot, even better than Peter Ustinov, whom I also love. There are several plot twists typical to a Christie story, but these will surprise a neophyte to her work.Finally, how beautiful is Polly Walker! It's truly a shame that actresses like her and Helena Bonham Carter aren't in more mainstream movies. For Polly Walker fans this movie is a must see!