Irving Martinez’s ‘Not Another Murder Mystery’ is a playful, self-aware short that pokes fun at the whodunit genre while still delivering a clear and coherent story. Made with modest student-budget means, it opens with a classic setup: a group of colorful suspects, and a no-nonsense detective ready to solve the case. What follows is a sharp and surprisingly funny take on murder mystery tropes – not interested in suspense so much as how absurd these stories can be.
The cast leans into the farce with good energy. Thivy Michelle stands out as Kim Sears, the unapologetically blunt mistress who turns a dramatic confession into one of the funniest moments in the film. Sam Dalesio, as the disgruntled widow Judith, gets some great dry lines, while Eric Lyons plays the cigarette-smoking novelist with just the right amount of smugness. Everyone seems to be having fun with their roles, which helps the humor land even when the production limitations show.
The writing is the film’s strongest feature. It’s well-paced and knows exactly how far to push each character without tipping into overkill. A twist ending cleverly breaks the fourth wall, shifting the blame from characters to creator in a punchline that’s both unexpected and funny. It’s a bold swing that works because the film hasn’t taken itself too seriously from the start.
Visually, the camera work is basic and the sound could use improvement, but nothing distracts from the story. For a low-budget student project, ‘Not Another Murder Mystery’ knows what it’s doing: keep the audience entertained, deliver a few surprises, and leave with a wink. It’s a fun, self-referential take on genre clichés, made with love, wit and just enough chaos.
