There is something about Benedict Cumberbatch. It might be his needle-sharp jawline, his charming British accent or his deprecating humor. Whatever it is, he’s endlessly fascinating to to watch as Sherlock Holmes.
The new Sherlock Holmes movie, “The Abominable Bride,” directed by Douglas Mackinnon and starring Cumberbatch, came out on Jan. 5. As an avid mystery fan, I was eager to watch it.
As in all other Sherlock Holmes movies, Holmes is tasked with solving a seemingly impossibly mystery. This time, it’s the Abominable Bride, a woman who commits suicide, but mysteriously resurrects and begins murdering people.
In fact, “The Abominable Bride” is based on a real-life case that occurred in 1895 in New England.
The crew portrayed New England in a way that was perfect for the film. The dark, gloomy nights followed by the thick morning fog heightened the suspense and fear of the murder mystery.
Cumberbatch’s performance as Holmes is flawless. His clever remarks are truly funny, and his observations and deductions are engaging and well thought out such as when he uncovers the identity of a woman through her perfume. And who could forget his petty arguments with Dr. Watson, played by Martin Freeman. My favorite from the movie is the scene in which Holmes tries to convince Watson that ghosts are not real.
Though I enjoyed the movie, some elements, like the solving of the mystery and time jumps, detract from film’s plot.
First, Holmes doesn’t solve this mystery in the trademark way. In other Sherlock adaptations, like “A Study in Pink” and “The Hounds of Baskerville,” the audience is privy to Holmes’s thought process and the clues that leads him to various deductions.
But in “The Abominable Bride,” Holmes seems closed off and tries to solve the case on his own; for instance, he spends three days meditating in his room. Then at the end, I was disappointed at how abruptly the solution to the mystery was revealed.
I was also confused by the random insertion of an “Inception”-esque moment for Holmes. One scene in particular, he injects himself with cocaine and wakes up back in the present. There, he has a conversation with Watson that sounds like a poor attempt to convey the message that drugs are harmful. However, this scene was out-of-place because it provides nothing relevant to the movie; the film would have been the same had this scene been skipped.
Despite these flaws, “The Abominable Bride” also offers something new: Watson and Holmes have a moment together where Watson just asks Holmes about his personal problems. Not only does this directorial choice give the audience insight into Holmes’s life, it also demonstrates the significance and closeness of their friendship.
In general, despite a few shortcomings, the movie balances suspense and excitement to make it an overall entertaining experience. If you are in the mood for a mystery movie with a twist of horror, or if you just love watching Cumberbatch play this role, “The Abominable Bride” is a must-watch.
