Over the festive period, BBC1 sizzled with a haunting adaptation of Agatha Christine‘s crime thriller And Then There Were None. First published in 1939, And Then There Were None was described by Christie as her most difficult book to write, but with good reward. It is the highest selling mystery novel of all-time with many critics considering it her masterpiece.
Ten strangers are lured to a secluded island off the coast of Devon on different pretenses. As they await their elusive hosts in their elegant mansion, they begin to be killed off one by one. Not the most Christmassy of tales, but who can resist a BBC drama?
The BBC’s adaptations of classic stories rarely fail to hit the mark, and this is no exception. An eerie score creates a dark and foreboding tone that builds throughout the three, hour-long episodes of the show. Every member of the all-star cast gives a stunning performance, combining innocent vulnerability with subtle malice making it impossible to know who to trust.
For those viewing this adaption with no prior knowledge of its source material, you will be tearing your hair out as you attempt to pinpoint who may be the culprit. Meanwhile, the slow and subtle nature of the rising tension proves that you don’t need to go to extraordinary lengths to create a true sense of horror.
#Peace.Love.AndThenThereWereNone
