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What is the plot?
At Coopers Chase, a peaceful retirement village, four elderly residents form the Thursday Murder Club (TMC), a group dedicated to solving cold cases for intellectual stimulation. The founding members include Ibrahim Arif, a retired psychiatrist; Ron Ritchie, a former trade union leader; and Elizabeth Best, a mysterious woman with a sharp mind and a secretive past. They are soon joined by Joyce, a newly arrived retired nurse whose medical expertise proves invaluable. The club draws inspiration from a long-unsolved murder case involving Angela Hughes, a young woman whose death years earlier had been investigated by Detective Inspector Penny Gray, now comatose in a hospice within the village. The club meets weekly to discuss this and other cold cases, keeping their minds sharp and their curiosity alive.
Their quiet routine is disrupted when Police Constable Donna De Freitas, recently transferred from London, visits Coopers Chase to give a presentation on home security. Donna quickly bonds with the TMC, confiding that her police work feels monotonous and unchallenging. Recognizing her eagerness for real investigative work, the club invites her to join their efforts, providing her with a chance to engage in meaningful detective work alongside them.
Meanwhile, tensions escalate within the village over plans to redevelop Coopers Chase into luxury flats. The property is co-owned by Ian Ventham and Tony Curran, whose conflicting visions create a rift. Ian aggressively pushes the redevelopment forward, while Tony opposes the sale, promising the residents he will block the project to preserve their community. This conflict takes a dark turn when Tony is found murdered in his home, his house ransacked and the murder weapon missing. The residents are shocked, and the TMC immediately resolve to investigate the crime themselves.
With Donna's assistance, the club delves into the investigation. They uncover that Bobby Tanner, a local crime boss long presumed dead after disappearing years ago, is secretly involved in the redevelopment scheme. They also learn that Ron's son, Jason, once worked with Tony, adding a personal dimension to the case. Suspicion initially falls on Ian Ventham, but he is soon cleared. During a residents' protest against the redevelopment, Ian suddenly collapses and dies from a fentanyl overdose, an event that leaves Bobby Tanner as the sole owner of the property. Jason is arrested on suspicion of Tony's murder, though the evidence against him is tenuous.
Elizabeth develops a cautious friendship with Bogdan Jankowski, a Polish handyman employed at Coopers Chase. Bogdan reveals a hidden grave on the property containing a skeleton, later identified as Peter Mercer, a man who had witnessed Angela Hughes's murder years before. Elizabeth also begins receiving anonymous threats warning her to abandon the investigation, indicating that someone wants the past to remain buried.
When Jason provides an alibi--an affair with Ian's estranged wife Gemma--the TMC refocus their attention on Bobby Tanner. Elizabeth and Donna discover Tanner's involvement in migrant trafficking, including the seizure of migrants' passports to control them. To their shock, Tony Curran had been Tanner's partner in this illicit operation. Elizabeth confronts Tanner and strikes a deal: he must keep Coopers Chase intact and halt redevelopment plans in exchange for her silence about his criminal activities.
However, Elizabeth soon realizes that Bogdan was responsible for Tony's death. During a chess game with Elizabeth's husband Stephen, Bogdan confesses that he killed Tony under duress but had not intended to commit murder. Stephen secretly records the confession, which leads to Bogdan's arrest. Bogdan explains that his motive was to retrieve his passport so he could return to his ailing mother in Poland.
The mystery surrounding Angela Hughes's murder also reaches a resolution. The TMC deduce that Peter Mercer had killed Angela, but Penny Gray, the retired detective now in a coma, had taken justice into her own hands by killing Mercer and hiding his body. When Ian Ventham's redevelopment plans threatened to expose Mercer's grave and implicate Penny, her husband John murdered Ian to protect her secret. Both Penny and John die shortly afterward in hospice care, in what is implied to be a murder-suicide by fentanyl overdose.
At the joint funeral for Penny and John Gray, Elizabeth formally welcomes Joyce into the Thursday Murder Club by presenting her with Penny's club necklace, symbolizing her full membership. With Coopers Chase once again up for sale, Joyce's daughter Joanna contemplates purchasing the property to preserve the community. Life at the village returns to a quiet normalcy, with friendships strengthened and the club ready to face whatever mysteries the future may hold.
Throughout the story, the characters' relationships deepen and evolve. Elizabeth's enigmatic past and her connection to Bogdan add layers of complexity, while Ron's strained relationship with his son Jason provides emotional stakes. Donna's integration into the club revitalizes her passion for police work, and Joyce's medical knowledge proves crucial in unraveling the mysteries. The narrative weaves together multiple threads of crime, personal history, and community dynamics, culminating in a richly detailed and satisfying resolution that honors the spirit of the Thursday Murder Club.
What is the ending?
At the end of The Thursday Murder Club (2025), the mystery resolves with John Grey confessing to the murder of Ian Ventham by administering a lethal dose of fentanyl. The Thursday Murder Club members successfully uncover the truth behind the murder, and the fate of the main characters is clarified as the story concludes.
Now, narrating the ending scene by scene in detail:
The climax unfolds as the Thursday Murder Club--Elizabeth Best, Ron Ritchie, Ibrahim Arif, and Joyce Meadowcroft--alongside PC Donna De Freitas, confront John Grey, a key figure connected to the land dispute and the murder investigation. Elizabeth presents her theory that John is responsible for Ian Ventham's death. John initially resists but ultimately admits to killing Ian by giving him a massive dose of fentanyl, a powerful opioid, to stop his destructive plans for the retirement village and cemetery land.
This confession comes after the club pieces together the complex motives involving the three shareholders of the land, including Tony Curran, who opposes Ian's scheme to demolish the retirement homes and replace them with an event center. The club's investigation reveals the tension and greed driving the conflict, with Ian's henchman and the criminal Bobby Tanner playing peripheral roles in the unfolding drama.
Following the confession, the film shows the resolution of the characters' arcs:
- Elizabeth Best, the retired spy, remains the sharp and composed leader of the club, her intelligence pivotal in solving the case.
- Ron Ritchie, the retired union leader, continues to support the club's efforts, his family dynamics touched upon through his son Jason, who is a washed-up boxer turned reality TV personality.
- Ibrahim Arif, the retired psychiatrist, provides insight and calm throughout the investigation.
- Joyce Meadowcroft, the retired nurse, newly added to the club, proves her value in the investigation and community.
- PC Donna De Freitas gains confidence and respect within the police force by collaborating with the club.
- John Grey, after his confession, faces the consequences of his actions, though the film focuses more on the club's triumph than on legal proceedings.
The final scenes emphasize the club's camaraderie and their continued commitment to solving mysteries, reinforcing their role as underestimated but capable sleuths within their retirement community.
This detailed ending highlights the resolution of the murder mystery, the fate of the main characters involved, and the restoration of peace to the retirement village.
Who dies?
Yes, several characters die in the 2025 film The Thursday Murder Club, and their deaths are central to the plot.
- Tony Curran
- Who: Tony Curran is a business partner involved with Cooper's Chase, the retirement home where much of the story takes place.
- How and Why: He is found bludgeoned to death. Initially, suspicion falls on Ian Ventham, his business partner, who would benefit financially from Tony's death. However, it is later revealed that Tony was killed by Bogdan, the Polish groundskeeper at Cooper's Chase. Bogdan claims he killed Tony in self-defense after Tony attacked him when Bogdan tried to retrieve his passport, which had been confiscated by the owners to keep him working illegally. The exact details of the confrontation remain somewhat ambiguous.
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When: The murder occurs early in the story, triggering the main investigation by the Thursday Murder Club.
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Ian Ventham
- Who: Ian Ventham is Tony Curran's business partner, who wants to demolish Cooper's Chase to build luxury flats.
- How and Why: Ian dies suddenly in front of a crowd of pensioners, removing himself from suspicion in Tony's murder. The cause of his death is not detailed in the sources, but it is implied to be natural or sudden, not a murder.
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When: Ian's death happens after Tony's murder and before the resolution of the case.
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D.I. Penny Gray
- Who: Penny Gray is a retired police officer who originally started the Thursday Murder Club.
- How and Why: She is in a coma in the hospice wing and does not actively participate in the investigation. Her condition is mentioned but not detailed as a death within the timeline of the film.
- When: She is already in a coma during the events of the film.
No other character deaths are explicitly mentioned in the available plot summaries. The main murder mystery revolves around Tony Curran's death, with Bogdan as the revealed killer acting in self-defense under desperate circumstances. Ian Ventham's death is a plot point but not a murder. The film focuses on the amateur sleuthing of the elderly protagonists as they unravel these events.
Is there a post-credit scene?
Yes, the movie The Thursday Murder Club (2025) has a post-credits scene. In the director's cut, the post-credits sequence shows a humorous moment related to the characters' art classes in the house where they live. Specifically, the scene involves a demand for nude models during the art class, but the audience is spared seeing any actual nudity. This playful scene adds a lighthearted touch after the main story concludes.
What is the nature of the cold case the Thursday Murder Club initially investigates?
The cold case involves a woman from the 1970s who was stabbed before falling out of a window. Her boyfriend was cleared of any foul play but then suddenly disappeared, making the case mysterious and unresolved.
Who are the main antagonists involved in the land dispute threatening the retirement home?
The antagonists include Tony Curran (played by Geoff Bell), who opposes Ian Ventham (David Tennant) and his henchman Bogdan (Henry Lloyd-Hughes). They are involved in a bitter public battle over the land where the retirement home is located, with plans to demolish the homes and replace them with an event center, as well as renovate the cemetery for financial gain.
What role does the character Bobby Tanner play in the story?
Bobby Tanner, portrayed by Richard E. Grant, is a notorious criminal who has not been seen in years but is believed to possess valuable knowledge that could help crack the emerging mystery related to the land dispute and the new murder investigation.
How does police officer Donna de Freitas become involved with the Thursday Murder Club?
PC Donna de Freitas (Naomi Ackie) initially hesitates but becomes eager to join the club's investigation to escape her unfulfilling traffic stop duties. She wants to prove herself to the police force and works alongside the club, gaining information even from the bumbling DCI Chris Hudson (Daniel Mays).
What is the relationship between the Thursday Murder Club members and the new murder case?
The Thursday Murder Club, consisting of four retirees with diverse backgrounds (a retired spy, nurse, trade union official, and psychiatrist), usually solve cold cases for fun. However, when a new murder occurs on their doorstep linked to the land dispute, their casual sleuthing turns into a serious and dangerous investigation.
Is this family friendly?
The 2025 movie The Thursday Murder Club is rated PG-13, indicating it may not be suitable for young children without parental guidance. It is a comedy-crime-mystery film featuring four elderly protagonists solving murders, blending lighthearted and thrilling elements.
Potentially objectionable or upsetting aspects for children or sensitive viewers may include:
- Murder and crime themes: The plot revolves around solving cold cases and a real murder, so there are references to death and crime investigation.
- Mild suspense and thriller elements: The story involves a "whodunit" mystery that may include tense or suspenseful scenes.
- Some mature thematic content: Given the PG-13 rating, there may be mild language, thematic elements, or situations that are not fully child-friendly, though the tone is generally light and comedic.
No detailed reports mention graphic violence, strong language, or explicit content, and the film is described as having dignity and charm with a focus on entertainment rather than intense drama. However, the murder mystery context itself might be unsettling for very young or sensitive children.
In summary, The Thursday Murder Club is family-friendly for older children and teens with parental discretion advised due to crime and mild suspense themes, but it is not aimed at young children or those sensitive to murder-related content.