★★★

DIRECTOR: tony tilse (debut)
STARRING: essie davis, nathan page, rupert penry - jones and miriam margolyes

REVIEWER: lyall carter

Miss Fisher's adventures take her to the big screen as she unwraps a war time mystery that takes her all around the world. 

This is more than a little strange. My first review of a film since New Zealand went into lockdown and I guess this is how things will roll for some movie releases for the foreseeable future. Originally meant to be a cinematic release, Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears is the first to skip the big screen and go straight to video on demand. 

After freeing a young Bedouin girl, Shirin Abbas, from her unjust imprisonment in Jerusalem, Miss Fisher begins to unravel a wartime mystery concerning a priceless jewel, an ancient curse and the truth behind the suspicious disappearance of Shirin’s forgotten tribe.

Although I haven’t seen the Australian television series Miss Fisher from where this movie originates, the filmmakers have done a stellar job making sure that newcomers to the 'Miss Fisher world' don't feel like they're missing something. 

The story is an easy one to follow even though there are the typical mysteries, double bluffing and the odd red herring thrown into the mix as all good mystery films should have. 

Even though it’s not a particularly outstanding murder mystery plot in that it won't have you dumbfounded for days unable to comprehend how in the world you didn’t unravel the mystery, Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears is still a thoroughly entertaining one. 

The production design is good, but it still had the feeling of a made for TV movie instead of a lavish ‘big screen’ production. The action set pieces go through the motions instead of being truly thrilling, the crowds look a little empty and the jewel looks a little bit $2 shop-esque. The story and its settings just seem a little bit ambitious compared with the film makers obvious budget constraints. 

However Essie Davies leads the film brilliantly as Miss Fisher bringing a sparkling determination and quick wit to the role matched brilliantly by Nathan Page’s Detective Inspector Robinson.

Although it's an entertaining and glamorous romp around the world and back again, Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears is one for the fans.