Review: A Haunting in Venice

A sinister seance leads to murder in Kenneth Branagh’s newest adaptation of another Agatha Christie classic. Branagh returns as director, stars as the meticulous detective Hercule Poirot, and is once again surrounded by a big-name cast of characters.

The famed detective, Hercule Poirot, seems to have retired and is putting down roots in Venice. As his new neighbors try to garner his attention with mysterious cases, Poirot is more keen on finding the perfect pastries. That is until an old friend, Ariadne Oliver (Tina Fey), presents him with a case to die for.

Rowena Drake (Kelly Reilly) is on a mission to discover who killed her daughter. Most believe it was due to supernatural causes, thanks to the ghostly house surrounded by a tall tale that they live in. She hires a medium, Mrs. Reynolds (Michelle Yeoh), to perform a seance on All Hallows Eve. Reynolds is known for creating quite the spectacle, and her bond with the dead peaks Oliver’s and Poirot’s interest mostly because Poirot wants to prove ghosts are not the culprits of the murder.

These films are relatively uniform at this point. Poirot is summoned to uncover what happened with one murder, only for more to follow. It’s a classic whodunit reimagined from probably one of the best mystery authors of all time. What really brings these films to life is Branagh’s evident love for the character and the source material. He once again completely transforms into the detective, and you can feel his passion and joy in this film within every frame.

Once again, the cast is stacked with Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh, who you will not want to take your eyes off of, and Mr. Grey himself, Jamie Dornan, who gives a heartbreaking performance. Unlike the previous films, this does not feel like a stunt cast. Everyone seems to have been given a role with a purpose, and they all pull it off beautifully. It’s hard to stand out in a sea of great performances, but Tina Fey does just that. She is absolutely magnificent in this film and can match Branagh’s wit and charisma. Fey is honestly one of the best things about this movie.

The scenery is captivating; you can tell these are full tangible sets and not all green or blue screens. Although, at times, it is rather dark. I think they were trying to go for a mysterious allure, but most of the time, I wished someone would light another candle. That being said, most of the shots are eerie and keep you on the edge of your seat. Also, the way Branagh plays with shadows adds to the spooky atmosphere.

So, is it scary? Well, yes and no. There are a few jump scares, but unfortunately, most of them don’t land. One of them happened before a camera movement, and others felt dull due to the lack of sound effects. If the score had been used more efficiently (which is hauntingly beautiful, by the way), the scares may have landed a bit better.

A Haunting in Venice is almost a horror disguised as a sophisticated murder mystery. If it had leaned into the horror a little bit more, I think it would have been a home run. But it’s entertaining, and you’ll have fun watching it, trying to figure out what’s happening next. There are some stellar performances from the cast, but Tina Fey is fantastic, and Michelle Yeho is wickedly captivating. It’s stylistic and murderously clever. This is the best out of the three films in the Hercule Poirot series. And, while some of the surprises were a little predictable, they were revealed in a savvy way. I do recommend staying away from any spoilers. Not knowing what’s happening or who the killer is will add to your experience. This is a solid film to get you ready for the spooky season, and you will have a blast watching it.