The Sheep Detectives – Movie Reviews by Ry!

The Sheep Detectives –  Shepherds & Mysteries: You are my Flock

In this world, we see things with value and intent.  The aspect of what becomes may not always be, but as situations change, moments can always become something.  It is in that genuine grip that pulls us through the motions, showing how the unexpected can be more.  When this is done in film, it can lead to a memorable experience.  In this review, I look at the latest murder/mystery film.  What starts out as a simple case, The Sheep Detectives leads to much more than a murder … but a humanizing experience that becomes one of the best films of the year.

When a beloved shepherd is found dead, it takes the will of his sheep to solve the case and find out … who is the murderer.  Let me begin this review by reiterating something I mention all the time … film is subjective.  It is a medium where creativity and escape is a matter of one’s own view.  From genre to story, there are many things that can grip our emotions.  Even with the diversity of thought, there are times when that subjectivity trails into an overall point.  This is a film that rises above everything by focusing on two specific things: simplicity and characterization.  The story begins with a general prologue via voice narration, where we are introduced to a shepherd who tends to sheep in a small town in England.  His everyday seems normal except for one thing, he reads murder mystery novels to his sheep before bed.  From this unique point we head into the main crux of the film:  The shepherd is murdered and it is up to the sheep (with some added hijinks) to solve the case.  From here, the film moves through a series of linear moments, building off the simple foundation of a murder/mystery tale.  Each scene seems predictable, but there is a balancing act between the residents of the town and the sheep, as both groups try to figure out … who is the suspect.  The bouncing between the characters might seem surreal, but what elevates the generalization is the focal point on layered emotions and personal stakes.  For the sheep, we witness a coming-of-age motif blended in the reality of the moment.  The shepherd’s death becomes a crossroads of emotional reverie, a struggle for creatures to understand meaningful things within tranquility and distraught.  You witness blind innocence, but also a heightened fragility of one’s own purpose.  This leads each sheep to find that personal push for solving the case.  For the residents of the town, it is a crossroads of growth and self-reflection.  Each character (you can view the actor/actress list at the film’s IMdb page – link) reflects simple archetypes, but that foundation propels them to become layered individuals that are weaved into the murder as suspects or victims.  As the weaving between the human and animal characters continues, it pushes moments above the simple premise to an elevated experience.

As each clue comes up, the aspect of drama and mystery intertwine seamlessly as connections are made.  As each layer is peeled back, it becomes an honest reflection on the precious connections we find in life.  Each conversation feels authentic, even as caricatures spin threads of typical stature.  As things start to come through, we head into a third act that spins truth in a twist, leading to a full circle climax and wholesome epilogue.  The Sheep Detectives is a tale that rises above its own foundation.  If you are a fan of murder mysteries or character tales, this is one for you.  For all its worth, this is a film that should not be missed.

Full Score – 4.5 out of 5 (Award Worthy)