Movie Monday Nov. 8: Clue

Maybe it’s the fall weather, but for some reason, I’m in a mood for cult classics. First Scream, then The Princess Bride, and now, one of my all time favorite movies, Clue. As I’ve said before, I’m a big murder mystery fan. I love trying to piece together the clues as I watch a ‘whodunit’ movie/TV show or read a murder mystery book. Sometimes, though, it’s nice to just sit back watch some wacky characters try to figure out a murder that gets more absurd by the minute.

**Warning, mild spoilers ahead, so if you haven’t watched the movie yet, what are you doing?**

If you’ve never seen Clue, I highly recommend it. The movie is based on the popular board game Clue (or Cluedo) and features a great ensemble cast, including the ever talented Tim Curry. It’s 97 minutes of recurring bits, slapstick, intrigue, and a whole lot of murders. It also features three alternate endings, something that confused audiences during its initial release but has since garnered it a cult following.

Six strangers gather for a dinner party at a secluded mansion. Each is instructed by the butler Wadsworth (Tim Curry) to use pseudonyms (Miss Scarlet, Colonel Mustard, etc) and not reveal any personal information. What at first seems like an innocent get together soon turns sinister. Everyone in attendance is being blackmailed for undisclosed reasons. When the blackmailer finally shows up, it takes all of five minutes for him to wind up dead. The group tries to find the killer, but instead keep finding dead bodies.

This black comedy will have you guessing, and laughing, until the very end. Every bit of information revealed is important, but not all of it fits together till the killer, or killers, is revealed. Its spoofy nature ensures that the film doesn’t take itself too seriously, but the plot is so well written that it plays out like a classic murder mystery. The set and costume designs are also fantastic and really add to the atmosphere of the film. It looks and feels like an Agatha Christie until the hijinks start. The comedy starts with subtle jokes, but soon the film ramps it up to all out chaos by the end; characters sprinting around the house to recreate the murders, a surprise visit by a traveling evangelist, the FBI, and three equally plausible yet ridiculous endings.

In my personal opinion, Clue gets better and better with every viewing. The humor is so campy and fun that it never really gets old. It also is a big nostalgia trip for me; of course Clue is my favorite board game. I’ve watched it at least once a year for over a decade, and I’m still laughing. Clue is a fun classic that fans of dark comedies and ‘whodunits’ can enjoy.

Happy watching!