Clue (1985)

Clue (1985)

7/10

Starring

Eileen Brennan

Tim Curry

Madeline Kahn

Christopher Lloyd

Michael McKean

Martin Mull

Lesley Ann Warren

 

Directed by Jonathan Lynn

 

 

Clue is a masterclass in comedy—a dark comedy about a murder where everyone is a suspect, and no one can prove their innocence. This alone keeps you glued to the screen, wondering what else could possibly go wrong.
Before diving into what makes this movie amazing, you should know it’s based on the board game of the same name. With that in mind, the film was made with multiple possible endings, adding to the fun.
I remember watching this movie as a kid and being frustrated that there wasn’t one definitive ending. But as I’ve grown older, I’ve gained a deeper appreciation for it and have watched it countless times since.

Filled with great acting and a lineup of top-tier actors, this black comedy is a marvelous ride.
The plot revolves around six strangers invited to a secluded mansion, where they’re greeted by a butler, Wadsworth (played by Tim Curry), and a maid. Each guest is given a pseudonym (Colonel Mustard, Mrs. White, Mrs. Peacock, Mr. Green, Professor Plum, and Miss Scarlet) to hide their identity from the others. They were all sat at the dining for dinner and soon, they’re joined by a man named Mr. Boddy, who happens to be blackmailing every one of them.

After a tense meeting at the dining, Wadsworth prepares to call the police to arrest Boddy. But Boddy threatens to expose the guests if they don’t kill Wadsworth instead. Suddenly, the lights go out, and when they come back on, Boddy is dead.
Now, the guests, along with Wadsworth and the maid, must investigate to find out who the killer is.

Things quickly spiral out of control. It turns out Wadsworth was trying to get Boddy to confess so he could turn him in to the police. As the group argues and moves around the house, they discover that the cook (not the maid) has also been killed. Then, Boddy turns up dead again—apparently, he wasn’t fully dead the first time.
All this confusion keeps you hooked as the group tries to figure out which among them is the killer.

Despite its brilliance, Clue was a box-office flop, failing to recoup its production costs. But like me, many people have watched it over a hundred times, making it a home video success and earning it a cult following.
I can confidently say you’ll love this movie and appreciate the artistry behind it, from the cinematography to the effects.