A Haunting in Venice

A Masked Mystery or Ghostly Comedy?
December 20, 2023 by
A Haunting in Venice
homoerectus, Alessandro Liggieri

In Venice, Poirot faces supernatural mysteries & confused characters. Branagh's direction is like a magician who misplaced his rabbit, blending thriller & comedy. A labyrinth of human souls awaits. 

Data Sheet

  • Director: Kenneth Branagh
  • Genre: Ghost Thriller
  • Length: Almost two hours of puzzles
  • Year: 2023
  • Based on Agatha Christie's 'Halloween Party', but with a Branagh twist.
  • Platform: Prime Video
  • Cast: Kenneth Branagh, Michelle Yeoh, Tina Fey, Jamie Dornan 

Plot

Hercule Poirot, known for his sharp mind and impeccable mustache, unexpectedly finds himself in a post-war Venice, far from his beloved Belgium. In a palace with more stories than the Library of Alexandria, a séance turns deadly. Poirot navigates through foggy clues and characters more confused than a mapless tourist. Amid mischievous spirits and deep secrets, he unravels this supernatural tangle.

Review

Branagh's direction in 'Murder in Venice' is like a magician who loses the rabbit in his hat. The cinematography makes you feel the Venetian humidity; the costumes, so real, you'd expect the characters to exchange Instagram contacts. Branagh's fidelity to Christie's book? Let's just say he took some creative liberties, perhaps while on a gondola. The film? A mix of thriller and comedy of errors, with Poirot more perplexed than a tourist reading a Venice map. Rating: 8/10, because who doesn't love a good mystery with a touch of irony?

Why I recommend it

It's more than just murders; it explores the labyrinths of the human soul, with a Poirot straight out of 'Ghostbusters'.   

Why I don't

If you're expecting light comedy, switch channels. Here, the darkness is as much inside as out.

A Haunting in Venice
homoerectus, Alessandro Liggieri December 20, 2023

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