Carl Roberts 
Kenneth Branagh returns as the world’s greatest detective, Hercule Poirot, in A Haunting In Venice. But is it a brilliant mystery thriller, or a cold, dead corpse?
A Haunting In Venice is based on the 1969 novel Hallowe’en Party by Agatha Christie. Once again, Sir Kenneth Branagh steps into the shoes of Hercule Poirot. The movie marks the third time Branagh has both played the role of Poirot and been behind the camera as director. The film sees Poirot now retired after his previous mysteries in Murder On The Orient Express, and Death On The Nile. (Read our review here.)
The ensemble cast features Kyle Allen, Camille Cottin, Jamie Dornan, Tina Fey, Jude Hill, Ali Khan, Emma Laird, Kelly Reilly, Riccardo Scamarcio, and Michelle Yeoh. In the film, Hercule Poirot must solve the murder of a guest at a séance he attended. But is the film a solid murder mystery which will tax our own little grey cells or a lifeless, cold, dead corpse of a film?
INITIAL THOUGHTS
The film certainly has life to it, that much is certain. It is an entertaining supernatural Murder mystery that ticks all the boxes. With some snappy visual effects and some spooky images, the film is a quality piece of cinema. However, at around the halfway point, you can possibly guess who the murderer or murderers are. And that lets the film down. Any mystery thriller that suddenly becomes a tad predictable is asking for trouble. Sadly, it’s this that drags the film down from what could have been an excellent chiller to an above-average run-of-the-mill mystery.
The tonal shift this time around will take audiences by surprise. Instead of being a straightforward murder mystery, the film actually contains a large helping of the supernatural. These elements, combined with the usual mystery elements leave the audience to feel slightly shortchanged. That isn’t to say it doesn’t work, it does for most of the running time. But anyone expecting to go in to see a classic murder mystery movie will leave the cinema feeling unsure of what they’ve just seen. There are some jump moments during proceedings but if you’re a horror fan, instead of being on the edge of your seat, you find yourself ready and expecting these moments. Some of these scares are unsuitable for younger viewers as they can easily disturb them.
THE CAST
The film features yet another ensemble cast and they perform their roles magnificently. Branagh as Poirot is once again outstanding. In fact, he inhibits the role to such an extent that we can’t see any other actor taking on the role. Branagh IS Poirot. The character’s mannerisms, quirks, sense of humour and incredible mystery-solving skills are all on display here once again. Branagh slips back into the role with such ease, you’d be forgiven for thinking that he never let the character go once the cameras stopped rolling on Death On The Nile. The actor is front and centre from the start and never lets go of our attention for even a second.
Riccardo Scamarcio as Vitale Portfoglio, Poirot’s bodyguard is also incredible in his role. Scamarcio comes across as an actor that we can hardly take our eyes off. His prowess in his role makes him become a character that we look up to, admire, and hope that he sees the final credits. Kyle Allen as Maxime Gerard, Kelly Reilly as Rowena Drake, Tina Fey as Ariadne Oliver, Ali Khan as Nicholas Holland, and Emma Laird as Desdemona Holland all turn in riveting performances, making the film a true ensemble piece. Branagh has a cast to die for in the film and he uses them to near perfection.
MICHELLE YEOH, JAMIE DORNAN, CAMILLE COTTIN, AND JUDE HILL
The standout members of the cast are Michelle Yeoh, Jamie Dornan, Camille Cottin, and Jude Hill. All four deliver performances that take the breath away. Michelle Yeoh as Joyce Reynolds gives a performance that proves that her recent Oscar win was no fluke. From the second we see her, we are hooked. Is she really a medium as she claims or just another charlatan preying on despairing people, easily swindled out of their money in their distress? During the seance itself, we get the full magnitude of her acting ability. And she leaves us with a strong impression.
Jamie Dornan as Dr. Leslie Ferrier also leaves us with a strong impression. When we first meet him, he is sitting in a chair while children play inside the house during Halloween. His forlorn look and lack of emotion make us feel cold towards him at the start. But once a revelation of exactly why he is the way he is, our sympathies go straight towards him. Ferrier is a tragic character, one with a strong backstory that not only makes us saddened for him but also makes Poirot see him as kind of a kindred spirit. Once his secret is exposed, the audience begins to root for Ferrier to discover some happiness by the end of the proceedings.
Camille Cottin as Olga Seminoff gives an inspired performance. As the closest friend to Rowena Drake, Olga is the one person that we find ourselves thinking of as innocent throughout. Is she innocent or does she too have something to hide? Is she a good, loyal and loving friend or a cold-blooded murderess? Can she really be a wolf in sheep’s clothing, hiding in plain sight, ready to kill and shed blood? Camille Cottin’s role suits her down to the ground. She embraces the character and plays her magnificently.
Young Jude Hill though, is someone to watch for in the future. For one so young, he gives an emotional and heart-wrenching performance as Ferrier’s son, Leopold Ferrier. His devotion to his father cannot be understated. Leopold is always by his father’s side in times of emotional strife, offering words of encouragement and understanding. He understands what his father is going through, even though he is too young to comprehend it in reality. But his strength when his father needs him is incredible. Kenneth Branagh cast Jude Hill in his Oscar-winning film Belfast. And he once again casts him in a strong role that amazes the audience.
DIRECTING
There is one member of the cast I have missed out. And that is Venice itself. Kenneth Branagh makes the Italian city into a vital cast member, one that looks incredible through Branagh’s eyes and lens. Branagh directs both his actors and the city of Venice with aplomb. His eyes for the visuals, the beauty of the city, the lighting for his shots and his overall prowess behind the camera are exceptional. While I did find some of the scenes a little too dark at times, it doesn’t detract from the film. Branagh’s direction is assured throughout, proving that he is a truly visionary director and a sure-fire Best Director Oscar-Winner one day in the near future. Add in a worthy score from Hildur Guðnadóttir, and you’ve got a match made in heaven.
WRITING
The screenplay by Michael Green is enjoyably good. It deliberately moves slowly from the start. But it builds up the tension among the scares well. Green knows that this a murder mystery (one that is thinly based on Christie’s novel), and manages to craft a tale that will keep the audience guessing. Not one of the ensemble cast is innocent. Everyone has their own secrets, secrets that will eventually be dragged into the light and exposed for others to discover. Sadly, as previously said, the script gets predictable around halfway. I haven’t read the novel but I could see the resolution from a mile away. And despite the best efforts of the cast, that is a flaw the film can’t overcome. But Green does pull out a twist that the audience won’t see coming. And it oh so nearly manages to cover the faults in the script.
CONCLUSION
While the film isn’t bad by any means, the fact remains that is the weakest of the three Branagh Poirot films so far. And that is a shame as there is much to enjoy here. The buildup is deliberately slow to encompass everything the film contains, much to either the enjoyment or the ire of the audience. It could be due to the fact that the film is based on a lesser-known Agatha Christie work. Or because of the tonal shift away from what made the previous two films so successful makes the film different to what we expect.
That being said, the movie is worthy of seeing. The visuals, the look, and the overall class that the film exudes make it a good murder mystery thriller that fans and non-fans can enjoy. Some members of the audience will inevitably, like myself, work out the solution long before it is revealed. But that shouldn’t distract you from what the film contains. A Haunting In Venice may not haunt the audience after the end credits have rolled. But it does provide a highly enjoyable movie-going experience. And it is worth investigating it for yourself.
A Haunting In Venice is distributed by 20th Century Studios and will be released on September 15th.
Carl Roberts is the News Editor for The Future of the Force. Aside from being our horror genre aficionado, he is also passionate about Star Wars, Marvel, DC, and the Indiana Jones movies. Follow him on Twitter where he uses the force frequently!
