Crooked House

Year: 2017

Runtime: 115 min

Language: English

Director: Gilles Paquet-Brenner

DramaMysteryCrime

When a wealthy and influential man dies suddenly, private detective Charles Hayward, a former spy, is called in to investigate. He finds himself embroiled in a complex case involving the Leonides family, a group with many secrets and potential motives. Hayward must carefully examine the relationships and uncover the truth behind the suspicious death, navigating a web of deceit and hidden agendas within the eccentric and dysfunctional household.

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Crooked House (2017) – Ending Explained & Final Scene Breakdown

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At the end of Crooked House, the mystery of Aristide’s real murderer is finally unraveled. It turns out that his youngest granddaughter, Josephine, was the one responsible for his death. She held a twisted fascination with murder mysteries and saw herself as a detective like Sherlock Holmes. Driven by her hatred for her grandfather, whom she believed hypocritically limited her dreams of ballet, Josephine poisoned Aristide with cyanide, which she also used to kill her nanny. The motive was rooted in her deep resentment and her desire to get rid of the family figure she despised.

However, Edith, the family’s loyal aunt, discovered Josephine’s involvement and was distressed by the child’s dark obsession. To protect Josephine from the consequences of her actions and shield her from mental suffering, Edith chose to take the blame herself and planned to die with Josephine. Tragically, Edith and Josephine drove their car off a cliff to conceal the secret, dying together as their sacrifice.

In the end, Charles and Sophia are left to grapple with the truth: that the murderous child was responsible for Aristide’s death, and Edith took the ultimate sacrifice to save her. The film concludes with a poignant reminder of the dark complexities beneath the surface of seemingly idyllic families, and the cost of silent loyalty in the face of brutal crimes. Crooked House leaves viewers pondering the twisted morality of a house built on secrets, lies, and sacrifice.

Last Updated: June 25, 2025 at 09:00

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Claustrophobic Family Murder Mysteries like Crooked House

Mysteries where the suspects are all trapped within a single, dysfunctional household.If you enjoyed the tense, contained investigation in Crooked House, you'll like these movies that feature a murder within a dysfunctional family. These similar mystery stories focus on a closed cast of suspects in a single setting, building suspense as long-buried family secrets come to light.

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Narrative Summary

A shocking death within a wealthy or eccentric family unit triggers an investigation that forces every family member's secrets and resentments into the open. The narrative hinges on peeling back the layers of polite facades to reveal the rot beneath, often uncovering a history of betrayal, greed, and psychological damage that made the tragedy inevitable.

Why These Movies?

They are grouped by their shared focus on a contained cast of suspects, a singular oppressive setting, and the thematic exploration of how familial dysfunction can fester into criminality. The mood is consistently suspenseful, deceitful, and claustrophobic.

Mysteries with Tragic Endings like Crooked House

Investigation stories where uncovering the truth leads to profound sadness, not justice.For viewers who appreciated the bleak and emotionally heavy conclusion of Crooked House, this list features movies like it where the detective's success comes at a great emotional cost. These similar crime films deliver a solution that is heartbreaking rather than satisfying, leaving a lasting melancholic feel.

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Narrative Summary

A detective, often an outsider, methodically works to solve a crime, believing truth will bring closure. However, the final discovery undermines this premise, revealing a truth so personally devastating—such as a child perpetrator, a noble motive twisted into evil, or a necessary sacrifice—that it renders the investigative victory hollow and deeply sorrowful.

Why These Movies?

They share a core narrative structure of a classic investigation but subvert the typical satisfying conclusion. The unifying element is the heavy emotional payoff, where the tone shifts from mystery to tragedy, leaving a dominant feeling of sadness and loss.

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Crooked House Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Crooked House

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More About Crooked House

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