A Haunting In Venice: Good Murder Mystery?

A Haunting in Venice (2023) film is about a Halloween Party that has gone wrong. Once again, the ace Belgian detective Hercule Poirot solves a bunch of murders using his intelligence. This unsettling supernatural thriller movie is loosely based on the 1969 murder mystery novel ‘Hallowe’en Party’ by Agatha Christie.

Although its makers have changed the setting of the story from the UK to Venice, Italy. In addition, one can look forward to the sighting of the ghost in it. In a homage to the Queen of Crime, this film was released on September 15, 2023, Dame Agatha Christie’s 133rd birthday.

Movie Review [Spoiler-Free]: A Haunting In Venice (2023) English

In FOCUS: The Halloween Party Goes All Wrong, When Someone Is Murdered…

Kenneth Branagh

So far, the well-known movie director and actor Kenneth Branagh has given us three movies inspired by Agatha Christie’s novels. The first one was “Murder On The Orient Express” (2017) and the second one was “Death On The Nile” (2022). Finally, the third one is A Haunting In Venice (2023). It is worth noting that all three films are directed by Kenneth Branagh with a screenplay by Michael Green based on Agatha Christie’s novels.

Moreover, the actor Kenneth Branagh plays the protagonist, the famed detective Hercule Poirot, in all of these movies. We have seen and liked all three movies.

Both Kenneth and Michael have done a good job of reinterpreting and reimagining the classical books of Agatha Christie into the movies.

Movie Poster

Ensemble Cast

One of the good things about these three movies is that all of them boast star-studded ensemble cast members. And, once again, Kenneth Branagh (Hercule Poirot) leads the pack of a hugely talented group of actors in “A Haunting In Venice”. Some of the well-known names are Tina Fey (Ariadne Oliver), Camille Cottin (Olga Seminoff), Kelly Reilly (Rowena Drake), Jamie Dornan (Dr Leslie Ferrier), Michelle Yeoh (Mrs Joyce Reynolds), Jude Hill (Leopold Ferrier), Emma Laird (Desdemona Holland), etc. All of them have performed well to keep us hooked on this murder mystery movie.

As usual, Kenneth Branagh’s third outing as Hercule Poirot seems natural now. He has grown and fitted right into the big shoes of the world-famous Belgian detective.

In the opening scenes of the film, Ariadne Oliver (Tina Fey) says she and Hercule Poirot (Kenneth Branagh) met on the Canning Street murder case. 

[It is worth noting that Tina Fey plays Cinda Canning on the whodunit murder mystery series "Only Murders in the Building."]

Tina Fey & Michelle Yeoh

This time, Tina Fey joins the fun, as she is his friend from the distant past. We liked their on-screen banter. They are simply buddies. Please note, “A Haunting In Venice” is a dark murder mystery film. Therefore, this film is the first on-screen film or television credit for Tina Fey, which is not a comedy. Not to forget the brief encounter and interesting chit-chat between the spiritual (ghost) believer, the medium Michelle Yeoh and the non-believer Kenneth Branagh characters.

We really enjoyed watching Branagh, Fey and Yeoh in this film.

[Hercule Poirot (Kenneth Branagh): I must tell you, Madam, I have been all my life uncharmed by your kind.

Mrs Reynolds (Michelle Yeoh): My kind?

Hercule Poirot: Opportunists who prey on the vulnerable.

Mrs Reynolds: You don't believe in the soul's endurance after death.

Hercule Poirot: I have lost my faith.

Mrs Reynolds: How sad for you.

Hercule Poirot: Yes, it is most sad. The truth is sad.]

Minus Points

In “A Haunting In Venice”, the medium played by Michelle Yeoh (Mrs Joyce Reynolds) conducts a séance with the help of her two assistants – Emma Laird (Desdemona Holland) and Ali Khan (Nicholas Holland). We are further informed in this film that these two assistants are the sister and brother of Hungry. However, neither their first names are Hungarian, nor is their accent Hungarian. We wish they could have come up with better backstories for them. Still, not to be too fussy, one can overlook this aspect.

[Hildur Guðnadóttir agreed to compose the film's score partly because her mother was an avid reader of Dame Agatha Christie.]

Plus Points

In any successful horror movie, its haunting music, eerie cinematography and spooky set design play a very important role. And as expected, the music in “A Haunting In Venice” is top-class. Also, the setting of the decaying palazzo in the city of Venice was almost perfect. The cinematographic shots in the movie added to the suspense and mystery in the film. Furthermore, we read somewhere that while donning the director’s hat, Kenneth Branagh used a bunch of surprise techniques to get the right kind of reactions from the actors.

For example, while filming the horror-filled seance scene in the film. he asked the technical department to cause a few surprises for the cast. So, they introduced the gusts of wind without a warning, then they slammed the doors on the sets and even switched off the lights suddenly. They did so, without warning any of the actors. As a result, they caused genuine confusion among the actors. No wonder, for the perfect movie shot, they not only managed to scare the actors but also captured their stunned reactions.

“It scared the bejesus out of me.”

Kelly Reilly (she confirmed filming it was a terrifying experience)

Movie Rating

The Conclusion

We praise Sir Kenneth Branagh for giving us his modern-day interpretations of the classic murder mystery novels of Dame Agatha Christie. Especially these days, in the age of IT and AI, we long for those simpler times. Thankfully, his movies take us into the world of the Orient Express, the Nile, and the Venice of the past. No wonder we liked the third movie too. And now we eagerly look forward to watching more adaptations of her novels in the future by his team.

Key Details

Trailer & Synopsis

"A Haunting in Venice" is set in eerie, post-World War II Venice on All Hallows' Eve and is a terrifying mystery featuring the return of the celebrated sleuth, Kenneth Branagh (Hercule Poirot). Now retired and living in self-imposed exile in the world's most glamorous city, Poirot reluctantly attends a séance at a decaying, haunted palazzo. When one of the guests is murdered, the detective is thrust into a sinister world of shadows and secrets. Now, it is up to the former detective to once again uncover the killer.

Check out the YouTube Video clip - Real Scares On The Set Of A Haunting In Venice | 20th Century Studios.

Spoilers Alert: Movie Explained

Please note:- we are not disclosing as to how and why they died. Because we do not wish to completely ruin this murder mystery movie for you all.

Leopold Ferrier: [distraught at Rowena] You Killed My Dad...

(He is talking about the death of Dr Leslie Ferrier)

Maxime Gerard: [outraged at learning Alicia's true fate] You Took Her From Me?

(He is talking about the death of Alicia Drake)

Rowena Drake: [venomously] To Keep (Her) Away From (You)!

Rowena Drake: [Poirot reveals her guilt in her daughter's death] How Dare You?

(Take a brief pause and then she moves away)

Rowena Drake: [justifying her actions to Poirot] I Couldn't Let Her Go... She Was My Whole World

[lighting flash reveals Alicia (ghost) standing behind her in front of Poirot]

Featured Image and Poster of A Haunting In Venice (2023) Movie | 20th Century Studios.