DVD Corner

The Sheep Detectives Blu-ray Review

“The Sheep Detectives” is a watchable mystery.  

Based on the novel “Three Bags Full: A Sheep Detective Story,” “The Sheep Detectives” is a feature film adaptation penned by Craig Mazin (who is perhaps best known for creating “Chernobyl” and “The Last Of Us” TV series). Set in the small English village of Denbrook, the story revolves around the mysterious murder of a shepherd (George). The dopey local police officer (Tim) is investigating, but he’s not the only one as George’s flock of sheep are also looking into the murder themselves. There are plenty of suspects including a butcher (Ham), a reporter (Elliot), an innkeeper (Beth), a rival shepherd (Caleb), and even George’s own daughter (Rebecca). The plot only thickens when it’s discovered that George is leaving behind a hefty sum of money. 

Best known for helming animated features like “Minions” and “The Lorax,” director Kyle Balda delves into the world of live-action with “The Sheep Detectives.” The film plays like a cross between “Babe” and Agatha Christie and features a strange mixture of comedy especially with the Tim character), drama, and surprisingly dark moments (the sheep face slaughter and a main sheep character dies). Tonally it’s a bit all over the place and the sluggish pacing really drags it down a notch. With that said, if you treasure murder mysteries and or animal tales, there’s much to admire about this heartfelt story of family, community, loss, and remembrance. The mystery may be a bit drawn out, but the journey to get to the climax has its rewards. 

The cast is a bit puzzling. For a British story, there’s a lot of non-British actors here. You’ve got an Australian Hugh Jackman as the shepherd George, the American Nicholas Braun sporting a lousy British accent as Tim, Emma Thompson in a small role as a solicitor, and an equally eclectic international voice acting cast featuring Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Chris O’Dowd, Regina Hall, Patrick Stewart, Bella Ramsey, Brett Goldstein and Bryan Cranston. There’s no denying the talent involved here, but it’s an odd mixture to be sure. 

Video/Audio:

Presentation: 2.00:1 1080p. How does it look? The colors really pop with this pristine hi-def print. 

Audio Track: Dolby Atmos. How does it sound? To no surprise, this Atmos track hits all the right notes.

No extras.

August 16, 2026 - Posted by nicklyons1 | Blu-Ray review | Hugh Jackman, murder mystery, The Sheep Detectives Blu-ray Review