‘A Haunting in Venice’ Review: A Spooky and Elegant Whodunnit Mystery
Zofia Wijaszka
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For many, Halloween is a significant time every year. It’s the day when ghosts are supposedly free to roam the Earth to conclude their unfinished business. However, Hercule Poirot (Kenneth Branagh) wholeheartedly believes that there is no such thing as paranormal, and everything can be explained. A Haunting in Venice, the most recent Agatha Christie adaptation directed by Branagh himself, extensively discusses the connections and distinctions between skepticism and the paranormal. The film also bestows upon us excellent performances and another look into the life of an eccentric but diligent detective.
Beautiful and mysterious Venice. Retired Poirot spends his days enjoying the pleasures of life, such as weighing an egg to select the “best” one, which is very Poirot. But his calm is short-lived when Ariadne Oliver (Tina Fey), a renowned mystery writer and Hercule’s acquaintance, invites him to Rowena Drake’s (Kelly Reilly) house for a séance and Halloween party. The widow is attempting to contact her daughter, Alicia (Rowan Robinson), who threw herself out the window some time ago. Amongst the guests are Dr. Leslie Ferrier (Jamie Dornan) with his son (Jude Hill), the housekeeper Olga Seminoff (Camille Cottin), Alicia’s former lover, Maxime Gerard (Kyle Allen), and the psychic, Mrs. Reynolds (Michelle Yeoh) with her assistants (Ali Khan and Emma Laird).
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The premise of A Haunting in Venice covers a polemic between what can be demonstrated by rationality and the belief in the paranormal. Poirot, of course, is a skeptic who will stop at nothing to question Yeoh’s credibility as a medium. Branagh’s performance demonstrates that he was born to play the iconic investigator. As in the books, the man doesn’t diminish one’s profession in a condescending manner. Rather, he’s just trying to solve each puzzle at any cost—in this case, Alicia’s illness that supposedly led to her death, and the murders that soon follow.
As we see the banter amongst the old pals Ariande and Hercule, Fey, in her performance as Mrs. Oliver, doesn’t fall far behind Branagh. The character brings out Poirot’s softer side and serves as an ideal canvas for clever exchanges and academic debates. When it comes to notable duos, we can’t overlook Dornan and young Hill—both actors made a highly emotional, loving, and peculiar pair of a troubled father and wise-beyond-his-years son. Both Reilly and Yeoh are equally charming from start to finish, although one will wish to see more of Yeoh’s character. After all, there is no such thing as too much Michelle Yeoh.
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It’s known that the man behind Poirot’s theatrical creation is not just a talented actor, but also a brilliant director. A Haunting in Venice is further evidence of that fact. The film is filled with stunning vistas of Venice that are at once liberating, joyful, and terrifying. The writing by Michael Green is just as strong, perhaps with a few bumps along the way. But the satisfying climax and thought-provoking scenes, especially when Poirot lets his mind wander, speak for themselves as he eloquently and logically presents his solution, leaving guests in horror, but utter delight to be witness to his work.
Agatha Christie, the “whodunnit” queen, is an excellent source of inspiration. This time, her Hallowe’en Party influences the film, which presents another superb story—cohesive, twisty, dark, and, at moments, bloodcurdling as we are offered not one, but numerous quite successful jump scares, with a discussion of the line between paranormal and skepticism at the forefront.
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A Haunting in Venice gives room for a post-movie conversation, never judging one side or the other. Instead, the film highlights the characters’ quest to understand how both perspectives can intertwine and coexist. Even Poirot struggles to understand existence beyond logic. But throughout the film, he is continuously pushed to the limits by the house, its people, ghosts of the past, and—his favorite—murder.
In the end, it’s for the audience to judge what is and isn’t ghostlike in the film; the director leaves it for us to decide. No matter what one thinks, A Haunting in Venice is a perfect film for a spooky season with a satisfying ending. With the engaging plot and stellar cast, you’ll subconsciously compete with Poirot and try to solve the case faster than the detective. The movie isn’t only for those who enjoy Agatha Christie’s books and adaptations, but also for those who enjoyed the Rian Johnson films and will never say “no” to a great “whodunnit” story this Halloween season.
Summary
With the engaging plot and stellar cast, A Haunting in Venice is a perfect film for a spooky season with a satisfying ending.
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