It is a somber, slow-moving, and largely uneventful period murder mystery, though these are not necessarily criticisms. It is splendidly shot, with lovely attention-to-detail regarding costumes and props and period dialogue, and an appropriately funereal mood. Though it does also have the feeling of a two-part BBC mystery drama where the final half-hour is in stark contrast to the preceding ninety minutes in terms of progress and revelation. However, it never becomes dull, which can be so easy for films of this nature.

It is a mighty fine cast. Obviously Bale but also Toby Jones, Robert Duvall, Gillian Anderson, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Lucy Boynton, Timothy Spall, and quite the odd yet strangely accurate-feeling performance by Harry Melling as Edgar Allan Poe. Surprisingly, Charlie Tahan (Wyatt from Ozark) is also in one scene.