In the world of Agatha Christie adaptations, there’s always a delicate balance to strike between remaining faithful to the source and modernizing the narrative for contemporary audiences. Kenneth Branagh’s third venture in this territory, A Haunting in Venice, may have finally found his rhythm with these films. Starring Tina Fey, Michelle Yeoh, Kelly Reilly, Jamie Dornan, Camille Cottin, and others, the film takes us to Venice in 1947. Hercule Poirot (Branagh), now retired, is convinced by Adriane (Fey), a mystery novel writer, to accompany her to a seance to uncover the truth about a chosen medium. Little do they know, the Palazzo they visit holds a tragic secret. Rowena (Reilly), the current owner and an opera singer, has enlisted the help of Ms. Reynolds (Yeoh), a medium, to connect with a deceased relative. As tension builds with strange occurrences like falling chimneys and doors blowing open, it becomes clear that there’s more to this haunting than meets the eye. When the medium awakes from her trance, leaving the mystery unsolved, Poirot’s interest is piqued, and he sets out to uncover the truth.
From the start, the mystery unfolds at a steady pace, keeping audiences on the edge of their seats. While some plot events may be predictable, it doesn’t detract from the overall experience. A Haunting in Venice finds a maturity that its predecessors perhaps lacked, striking a balanced seriousness that grounds the narrative. Branagh’s unique choice to frame characters off-center adds an intriguing visual element, reflecting the misaligned motives of the characters or simply offering a fresh take on classic storytelling.
The cast, including Michelle Yeoh, Tina Fey, Jamie Dornan, Kelly Reilly, and Camille Cotton, delivers measured performances that avoid the pitfalls of theatricality often seen in mystery adaptations. Their chemistry on screen is palpable, enhancing the overall viewing experience.
The film benefits from its scaled-down approach, returning to a more confined space and allowing for a deeper exploration of each character. As a lesser-known work of Christie, adapting it was a clever choice, filling in the gaps and nuances that the book may have left ambiguous.
A Haunting in Venice captures the essence of what makes Agatha Christie’s works timeless. By focusing on the smaller elements of the plot and characters, Branagh and his team have delivered a film that pays homage to Christie while surpassing the first two installments in the trilogy.
Title: A Haunting In Venice
Distributor: 20th Century Studios
Release date: September 15, 2023
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Screenwriters: Micheal Green
Cast: Kenneth Branagh, Michelle Yeoh, Tina Fey, Jamie Dornan, Kelly Reilly, and Camille Cottin.
Rating: PG-13
Running time: 1 hr 47min
