I loved Murder on the Orient Express and thought that Death on the Nile was okay, but A Haunting in Venice is my favorite out of the three! This is the third time that Kenneth Branagh has directed and starred in a Hercule Poirot. I was not going to bother checking this one out in the theatre as Death on the Nile did not blow me away, however, I am very glad that I did as this was such a fun time.
How to Download A Haunting in Venice
A Haunting in Venice was released on September 15, 2023. You can expect the film to become available for download or streaming about two months after its release. Click on the Download button at the end of this review and check the availability.
The Movie Review
A Haunting in Venice takes place as you would expect in Venice. Hercule Poirot is now retired and just trying to live his life. I like how we get the chance to see that Hercule Poirot is just trying to live a normal life, but his “celebrity” is still well known and people are bugging him all the time to help solve cases.
Key Facts
| Fact | Information |
|---|---|
| Movie Title | A Haunting in Venice |
| Director and Star | Kenneth Branagh |
| Release Date | September 15, 2023 |
| Download and Streaming | Expected availability for download/streaming around two months after the release. |
| Main Setting | Venice |
| Main Character | Hercule Poirot |
| Plot | Poirot is approached to attend a séance and intends to debunk it, but a murder occurs, leading him to investigate. |
| Genre | Mystery |
| Notable Actor | Michelle Yeoh (Joyce Reynolds) |
| Runtime | Approximately 90 minutes |
Poirot’s Skepticism and the Séance
He is approached to come to this séance that is being performed by a supposed medium called, Joyce Reynolds who is played by the ever-so-talented, Michelle Yeoh. Poirot agrees to go to the séance with the intent on debunking this whole thing. He is a very logical kind of mind so of course, he has no belief in supernatural events.
Unfolding Mystery
I was excited about this aspect of the movie. I am a huge horror buff and certainly believe in ghosts, ghoulies, and all other manner of spooky phenomena, but I knew it would be a blast to see Poirot debunking it all. The way that the movie does not start off as a murder mystery was really cool. However, as you know, before the night is over, a murder happens and once again, Hercule Poirot needs to try and catch the killer!
The Cast and Characters
I do not want to go into too many details about the story in A Haunting in Venice as that is the main point of this movie and you need to see it for yourself to appreciate it without any spoilers thrown your way. However, I found this to be the best movie out of the three Kenneth Branagh lead Poirot movies so far.
Visual Spectacle of Venice
Like the other two movies, this has a fantastic cast that all play their roles incredibly well. What I liked best about the movie was the way that Poirot goes into this so headstrong that it is all just fake. However, despite his logical mind telling him that it is not supernatural and there is a reason for it all, seeing him jump or be unsure was so cool to see.
Ideal Runtime
A Haunting in Venice is just spectacular to look at as well. A Death on the Nile was a great-looking movie and this one comes very close to topping it in the set department. Venice looks amazing, but it is the way that it is shot, and the clever camera angles that truly show off its beauty. Yet, with that being said, there are parts that are just a little too dark which I guess is fitting with the “spooky” tone of the movie, but it comes at the expense of seeing the amazing sets.
The runtime is also very much appreciated. I think part of my problem with Death on the Nile was that it lasted just a little bit too long. A Haunting in Venice runs at about 90 minutes and that keeps the pacing pretty much perfect. I highly recommend that you check this out and be sure to make the effort to see it in the theatre if you can!
