Movie Review: ‘A Haunting in Venice’

What is the plot of ‘A Haunting in Venice’?

Following the occasions of ‘Death on the Nile,’ the world’s greatest detective, Hercule Poirot (Kenneth Branagh), has retired and is now living a quiet life in Italy. One day he is visited by his old friend and mystery novelist Ariadne Oliver (Tina Fey), who invites him to a séance on Halloween to expose a fraudulent psychic named Joyce Reynolds (Michelle Yeoh). But when someone if murdered, Poirot vows to catch the killer.

Who is in the cast of ‘A Haunting in Venice’?

Initial Thoughts

(L to R) Kenneth Branagh as Hercule Poirot and Tina Fey as Ariadne Oliver in 20th Century Studios’ ‘A Haunting In Venice.’ Photo by Rob Youngson. © 2023 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

‘A Haunting in Venice’ feels more like an epilogue than an actual third installment but is still a fairly entertaining yet predictable mystery movie. Kenneth Branagh gives another good performance as Hercule Poirot but the film never really seems to come together as a whole. The new supporting cast create interesting foils for Poirot, but ultimately, the mystery is not that hard for the audience to solve.

Story and Direction

(L to R) Director Kenneth Branagh as Hercule Poirot and crew on the set of 20th Century Studios’ ‘A Haunting In Venice.’ Photo by Rob Youngson. © 2023 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

The movie begins by introducing us to an older and weathered Hercule Poirot (Branagh), who is now retired from detective work and living a quiet life in Italy. One day he is visited by his old friend, an American mystery novelist named Ariadne Oliver (Fey), who’s hottest literary character relies on Poirot himself. Oliver invitations Poirot to a séance on Halloween evening on the home of the rich Rowena Drake (Reilly), who just lately misplaced her daughter in a tragic accident. The séance is being performed by a medium named Joyce Reynolds (Michelle Yeoh). Oliver believes she is the actual deal and needs to base her subsequent novel on her, however wants Poirot, ever the skeptic, to witness her work and ensure she’s for actual.

Poirot just isn’t impressed by Reynolds, and confirms his suspicions however is then attacked by an unknown assailant. Not lengthy after, one of many visitors is murdered and with a storm closing the canals, the remaining visitors are trapped in Drake’s home, presumably with the killer, and with nowhere else to go. While ready for the climate to clear, Poirot begins to research and questions everybody, together with Oliver, Drake, her physician, Dr. Leslie Ferrier (Jamie Dornan), and his younger son, Leopold Ferrier (Jude Hill).

I loved each of Branagh’s different Agatha Christie films, ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ and ‘Death on the Nile,’ however ‘A Haunting in Venice’ lacks the scope or model of its predecessors. It feels rushed, truncated and missing of any actual objective. In truth, Branagh’s efficiency is absolutely the one vibrant spot within the film, which is in any other case tedious. But as a director, Branagh provides no model or freshness to the film. It’s just about a paint-by-numbers thriller, and nothing is added to make that extra refined or cinematic. The first two films benefited from the unique areas which Branagh shot in an epic method, however the director doesn’t make the most of his backdrop right here, as most scenes happen at evening, within the rain, or inside.

A scene from twentieth Century Studios’ ‘A Haunting in Venice.’ Photo courtesy of twentieth Century Studios. © 2023 twentieth Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

Kenneth Branagh’s efficiency as Hercule Poirot

Kenneth Branagh as Hercule Poirot in twentieth Century Studios’ ‘A Haunting in Venice.’ Photo courtesy of twentieth Century Studios. © 2023 twentieth Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

The solely saving grace ‘Haunting’ provides is Branagh’s strong efficiency as Poirot. After three films the actor actually has the character down, and it helps that we as an viewers have embraced him on this position. In this outing, Branagh explores Poirot’s age and his ardour for all times after spending a lot of it surrounded by loss of life. This Poirot is older, weathered, and questioning himself, possibly for the primary time in his life, and it’s an fascinating juxtaposition for the character. Also this time round, Branagh properly selected to chop again Poirot’s signature mustache only a bit, which doesn’t have an effect on the character or the efficiency, however is rather less distracting than within the earlier movies.

Related Article: Movie Review: ‘Death on the Nile’ 

Supporting Cast

(L to R) Tina Fey as Ariadne Oliver, Michelle Yeoh as Mrs. Reynolds, and Kenneth Branagh as Hercule Poirot in twentieth Century Studios’ ‘A Haunting In Venice.’ Photo by Rob Youngson. © 2023 twentieth Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

This is the place the film begins to crumble, and it’s not the fault of the actors, who’re all excellent, however their characters are both poorly written or not fleshed out sufficient. Now some could not take care of Tina Fey’s efficiency as Ariadne Oliver, as she is mainly doing a Katherine Hepburn impression, however I truly thought the characterization match nicely contemplating the film’s 1940’s setting. Oliver is feisty and good, and a superb companion to Poirot, and Fey has good chemistry with Branagh. However, with out giving something away, a twist within the third act renders the character unreliable.

Jude Hill, who was final seen in Branagh’s Oscar-winning ‘Belfast,’ provides a superb efficiency because the precocious Leopold Ferrier and has robust chemistry with Jamie Dornan, who as soon as once more performs his father as he did in ‘Belfast.’ As Dr. Leslie Ferrier, Dornan is strong and performs a person with PTSD nicely, however the character just isn’t given sufficient to do and is mainly used as a crimson herring to the thriller.

Recent Oscar-winner Michelle Yeoh has a number of enjoyable scenes because the psychic Joyce Reynolds, however once more, is absolutely not given rather a lot to do. You don’t actually get an opportunity to know the character or perceive her motivations in her restricted screentime, and once more, it’s a disgrace the character was used as a little bit of a crimson herring. It was good to see ‘Yellowstone’ actress Kelly Reilly return to the massive display screen, and whereas the actress performs the position to the perfect of her talents, the character was terribly written and weakens the thriller on the core of the story.

Predictable Mystery

Kelly Reilly as Rowena Drake in twentieth Century Studios’ ‘A Haunting In Venice.’ Photo by Rob Youngson. © 2023 twentieth Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

The actual drawback with ‘A Haunting in Venice’ is that the thriller is just too predictable and simple to resolve. While there was a little bit of a twist within the third act, I knew who the killer was from the start and it simply appeared too apparent. While the earlier films had third act twists as nicely, they appeared recent and authentic on the time and this one simply seems like we’ve seen it earlier than.

Final Thoughts

(L to R) Tina Fey as Ariadne Oliver and Kenneth Branagh as Hercule Poirot in twentieth Century Studios’ ‘A Haunting In Venice.’ Photo by Rob Youngson. © 2023 twentieth Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

While ‘A Haunting in Venice’ is a serviceable and entertaining sufficient film that features one other wonderful efficiency by Branagh as Poirot, it lacks the enjoyable and urgency of the earlier movies and options an especially predictable thriller at its core.

‘A Haunting in Venice’ receives 5 out of 10 stars.

Kenneth Branagh as Hercule Poirot in twentieth Century Studios’ ‘A Haunting In Venice.’ Photo by Rob Youngson. © 2023 twentieth Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

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‘A Haunting in Venice’ is produced by twentieth Century Studios, Scott Free Productions, The Mark Gordon Company, and Genre Films. It is ready to launch in theaters on September fifteenth, 2023.