The Buckingham Murders (2024) Movie Review: Kareena Kapoor Khan’s Gripping Performance Elevates Hansal Mehta’s Tense Whodunit Thriller

The Buckingham Murders (2024): Plot and Premise – A Bereaved Detective’s Dark Dive into British Shadows

The Buckingham Murders (2024), directed by the masterful Hansal Mehta, unfolds as a brooding crime thriller set against the misty, multicultural backdrop of Buckinghamshire, England. Kareena Kapoor Khan stars as Jasmeet “Jass” Bhamra, a British-Indian detective shattered by the unsolved murder of her young son. Seeking solace in a demotion and transfer to a sleepy town, Jass is thrust into investigating the brutal killing of 12-year-old Ishreen Kaur, whose body is discovered in a car trunk. What begins as a seemingly straightforward case unravels into a web of communal tensions, immigrant struggles, drug-fueled teen angst, and hidden LGBTQ+ secrets among suspects—including a Sikh family at odds with Muslim business partners and a clique of privileged youths.

Written by Aseem Arrora, Raghav Raj Kakker, and Kashyap Kapoor, the 107-minute runtime blends police procedural grit with poignant social commentary on otherness and grief. Produced by Kareena Kapoor Khan in her debut venture alongside Ekta and Shobha Kapoor under Balaji Telefilms, the film premiered at the 2023 BFI London Film Festival before its theatrical release on September 13, 2024, and Netflix streaming debut on November 8, 2024. It’s a slow-burn whodunit that prioritizes emotional depth over explosive twists, echoing Mehta’s signature style in Scam 1992 while nodding to British imports like Broadchurch.

Kareena Kapoor Khan in The Buckingham Murders: A Career-Defining Turn as the Grieving Cop

Kareena Kapoor Khan delivers her finest performance yet as Jass Bhamra, channeling raw vulnerability that weaponizes silence and subtle tremors. Stripped of her usual glamour, Kareena’s Jass is a hollow-eyed force—her steely interrogations masking maternal anguish that erupts in haunting flashbacks. Critics hail it as “pitch-perfect,” with her eyes “doing all the talking” in a role that demands restraint over histrionics.

This marks a bold evolution from Jaane Jaan (2023), proving Kareena’s range in her “second act” trilogy of wounded women. Supporting cast shines too: Ranveer Brar as the conflicted neighbor, Ash Tandon as a shady teen, Prabhleen Sandhu as the victim’s fierce mother, and Keith Allen as a brusque superior add layers, though backstories feel underdeveloped at times.

Hansal Mehta’s Direction and Technical Craft: Moody Mastery with Minor Stumbles

Hansal Mehta crafts a taut, unflashy procedural that grips from the opening grey-skied bench scene, using deliberate pacing to build dread. Vishal Vashishtha’s moody cinematography bathes Buckinghamshire in greens and shadows, enhancing the immigrant isolation theme, while the Hinglish dialogue feels authentically British-Indian. The soundtrack, subtle and somber, amplifies emotional crescendos, but tonal shifts— from gritty realism to rushed reveals—create dissonance, making the climax feel stitched-together. At 79% on Rotten Tomatoes (6.7/10 average), it’s praised as “immersive and edgy,” though some decry it as “lackluster” for predictability.

Fan Reactions and Social Buzz: Why The Buckingham Murders Trends in 2025

Post-release, #TheBuckinghamMurders and #KareenaInBuckingham explode on social media, with fans raving about Kareena’s “masterful” grief portrayal: “She elevates a typical mystery into something profound!” one X user tweets. User reviews on IMDb (5.9/10) echo this, calling it a “one-time watch” for her sake, though some lament the “sluggish” second half. It’s resonated with bereaved parents and thriller buffs, sparking discussions on immigration and justice.

Verdict: Stream The Buckingham Murders on Netflix for Kareena’s Heart-Wrenching Brilliance

The Buckingham Murders (2024) isn’t a pulse-pounding thriller but a compelling character study powered by Kareena Kapoor Khan’s emotionally resonant tour de force. Hansal Mehta’s socially pertinent whodunit shines in its grief exploration, despite pacing hiccups—making it essential viewing for fans of nuanced Bollywood crime dramas. Rating: 3.5/5. Binge it on Netflix now and witness Kareena redefine vulnerability.