Miss Fisher And The Crypt Of Tears

You have heard of Miss Marple, Nancy Drew, Jessica Fletcher but you have never truly seen the full potential of a female detective until you have seen Miss Fisher and her show named 'Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries'. That is just fact and I would expect to find those words written deep underground in a cave somewhere. Even early human civilisation would agree. If this is the first time that you have heard of Miss Fisher, I would recommend watching the first three seasons of the show first before reading this review about the film that follows it.

For fans of Miss Fisher, it was an agonising wait waiting for the crowd-funded film to be produced and then released across its retrospective countries but anything involving the gold-gun wielding force of nature is worth waiting for. I gathered my things and I set the scene. I dimmed my lights, lit some candles and got myself ready for the engrossing experience I knew I was in for. The film starts with, of course, Miss Fisher racing Palestine to free a girl from unjust imprisonment. In a matter of moments, we are reunited with Essie Davis (Phyrne Fisher) donning a fabulous wardrobe and quick, dry wit and allure with anyone she comes into contact with. Ah, what bliss!

Miss Fisher is a tough cookie to hold down and we are immediately treated with many scenes involving high speed chases, and a classic run across the top of a train! With 'Miss Fisher and The Crypt Of Tears' there is an obvious sense of using crime and detective tropes which the original show tends not to. The juxtaposition of the film with the show is slightly jarring as the plot of the film including mysterious emeralds is almost not good enough for our beloved Miss Fisher. But it is a lot of fun and is a throwback to the detective stories that were actually being written about at the time during the 1920s. And it's almost like Miss Fisher knows it, and is whisking us along for the ride.

After the train escape, Miss Fisher fakes her death and many of the people who have loved and admired her throughout the original series travel to a London estate to pay tribute to her - including her, "will they or won't they?" love interest Jack, and her Aunt Prudence. Naturally, Miss Fisher flies and parks her plane at her own funeral to the shock but not the surprise of her family members. The relationship with Jack is rocky to say the least since we last see them in the series but the love-hate relationship and how Jack always gets roped into Miss Fisher's cases unwillingly is a prime part of the plot. Ultimately, that is what carries the film through the most.

The absence bar from one quick sighting of characters such as Dotty, Hugh and Mr Butler makes the film feel colder and emptier. It is like Buffy without the "scooby gang". These empowering women are fantastic on their own but so much richer with their team around them. And that is what the film sadly lacks. However, it does give well deserved time to Miss Fisher and Jack who are almost on a holiday of sorts together through the film. And the film ends with lots of mushy revelations between them involving an imaginary spider which is thrilling to any fan of the series. I utterly adored that.

The plot was hard for me to care about as much as I did the characters but you can't tick every box. I longed for more but a second film has not been ruled out and there could be much more to come. And the whole film as a package is incredible considering how the film almost appeared from nothing and entirely fan support. The film exudes class and pure cinematic splendour. From golden desserts to zazzy one liners the film is just a good time and a true testament to the investment of the creators. They are not afraid to change things up a bit- in a way that Miss Fisher would be oh so proud of!

Have you seen 'Miss Fisher and The Crypt Of Tears' yet? Are you "yay" or "nay"? Let me know.

'Miss Fisher and The Crypt Of Tears" is available on AcornTV or the Alibi Channel in the UK