The Oxford Murders (2008)

At Oxford University, a professor and a grad student work together to try to stop a potential series of murders seemingly linked by mathematical symbols.

Director:

Álex de la Iglesia (as Alex de la Iglesia)

Writers:

Álex de la Iglesia (screenplay), Jorge Guerricaechevarría (screenplay),

Stars:

Elijah Wood, John Hurt, Leonor Watling

5 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Elijah Wood	...	Martin
John Hurt	...	Arthur Seldom
Leonor Watling	...	Lorna
Julie Cox	...	Beth
Jim Carter	...	Inspector Petersen
Alex Cox	...	Kalman
Burn Gorman	...	Yuri Podorov
Dominique Pinon	...	Frank
Anna Massey	...	Mrs. Eagleton
Danny Sapani	...	Scott
Alan David	...	Mr. Higgins
Tim Wallers	...	Defense Lawyer
James Weber Brown	...	Doctor
Ian East	...	Howard Green
Charlotte Asprey	...	Howard Green's Wife

Storyline

At Oxford University, a professor and a grad student work together to try to stop a potential series of murders seemingly linked by mathematical symbols.

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Plot Keywords:

symbol | oxford university | murder | mass child killing | triangle | 

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Genres:

Crime | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

14A

Details

Country:

Spain UK France

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 January 2008 (Spain)

Also Known As:

Los crímenes de Oxford

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$10,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$1,191 (USA) (6 August 2010)

Gross:

$3,607 (USA) (13 August 2010)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Eurimages, La Fabrique de Films, Telecinco Cinema

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

(at around 18 mins) The film gives a nod to director Brian De Palma with an apparently seamless 2+ minute tracking shot, traveling through multiple interior and exterior locations to reveal the first murder victim.

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Goofs

(at around 1h 17 mins) After Prof. Wilkes finishes his presentation of his solution to Bormat's Last Theorem, the writing on the blackboard behind him changes.

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Quotes

Arthur Seldom: [exasperated whisper] I don't know anything.

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Connections

Referenced in Teen Wolf: The Tell (2011)

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Soundtracks

Ricercar A 3
Performed by Barthold Kuijen
Courtesy of Sony BMG Music Entertainment Spain

User Reviews

Music gives the thrill...

This could be a good "who done it?" film with an interesting and clever story about an American student and an English professor who manage to solve the mystery of murders in Oxford society with the help of mathematics' symbols, puzzles and theories. But the lack of narrative style from Alex de la Iglesia (even though his long "traveling" shots without ending before the first murder are very interesting) and a plot full of mathematic explanations (even though are not so believable) damaged the film. Most of all we don't even have the proper character development, everyone there seems a caricature (especially the Russian student) and with not a good reason to exist (they are all suspects for the murders, that's the clue!) and most of the performances are "wooden" (Wood looks tiny in the central role without the ability to carry out the character) with the exception of Leona Watling (even though her character is irrelevant with the plot). Original music (Goya award) at least (from one of the greatest music composers, Roque Banos) holds the trill and tension to the end