The Oxford Murders

Fresh faced Elijah Wood and craggy chops John Hurt come head-to-head in this murder mystery set against Oxford's academic world. Wood plays Martin, a keen-eyed American student who crosses the Atlantic for the tutorage of philosophy lecturer Arthur Seldom (Hurt). Study is put on hold though with the death of Martin's landlady - the first victim of a serial killer who mixes murder with mathematical theory. Martin and Seldom join IQs to deduce the killer's next move, clashing over egos and love interests along the way. The Oxford Murders plays out philosophical and mathematical theories Sophie's World style, as each death tests Seldom's denial of the possibility of truth with Martin's belief in a fixed order of all things. More Midsummer Murders than Se7en, this is an enjoyable if dry mystery that would have benefited from some of the dark comedy of director Álex de la Iglesia's previous films.