Evil Under the Sun

The second Agatha Christie adaptation to star Peter Ustinov as master detective Hercule Poirot works better than the first, even if the awkward opening (necessary to wrap-up the case nearly two-hours later) feels completely out of place until the end of the film. While looking into an insurance matter, Poirot travels to an isolated hotel on an island in the Adriatic Sea where the focus of his inquiry, an egotistical gold digging actress (Diana Rigg) who makes more enemies than movies, turns up dead on a secluded beach.

Poirot has an island full of suspects including the new husband (Denis Quilley) she was stepping out on, the stepdaughter (Emily Hone) she was emotionally abusing, the wife (Jane Birkin) of the man (Nicholas Clay) she was having an affair with, and a pair of producers (James Mason and Sylvia Miles) and biographer (Roddy McDowall) who she was screwing over. And of course there's the hotel's owner (Maggie Smith), an old rival of the victim, and the man (Colin Blakely) who she had been stringing along only to steal a priceless diamond pendant and replace it with a fake (which is what led Poirot to the island). And, of course, all have airtight alibis for the crime.

While the setup isn't all that different from Death on the Nile, the inconsistencies which Poirot pulls at prove far more engaging as is Rigg who is having a delightful time as the rich bitch we can't wait to see get knocked off. Eventually, our detective does reveal the method and manner to the murder to the rest of the guests, albeit without the proof to backup this claims allowing the overconfident killers the chance to flaunt their victory which not only proves to be their undoing but also ties back to the otherwise disconnected opening scene on the British moors.

It's not my favorite of Ustinov's turns as Poirot, but director Guy Hamilton (Goldfinger and The Man with the Golden Gun) makes the most of the cast, the locale, and the setup in Evil Under the Sun to make it enjoyable enough to return to every now and then. The film has been released several times over the years on VHS, DVD, and Blu-ray. The new 4K includes both 4K and Blu-ray versions of the film and extras including audio commentary, radio spots, and the film's trailer.

• Title: Evil Under the Sun
• IMDb: link