A Haunting in Venice: Mark Kermode’s cri-fi movie (film review).
Mark Kermode had arrived for film review time only to find that Kenneth Branagh, with a twinkle in his eye and a Poirot moustache on his upper lip, has decided to grace the cinematic world with his new cri-fi flick, “A Haunting in Venice”. With a screenplay by Michael Green, this film is a whimsical nod to Agatha Christie’s 1969 novel, “Hallowe’en Party”, and serves as a sequel to “Death on the Nile” (2022).
Our Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot (played with gusto by Branagh himself), finds himself in the canals of post-war Venice in 1947. Living a life of quiet retirement, Poirot is suddenly thrust into a world of séances, opera singers, and mysterious deaths, all set against the backdrop of a Halloween night in a Venetian palazzo.
The plot thickens, as they say, when Ariadne Oliver, a mystery writer with a flair for the dramatic, convinces Poirot to attend a séance hosted by the illustrious opera singer Rowena Drake. The aim? To expose the medium, Joyce Reynolds, as a fraud. But, as with all good mysteries, things are not as they seem.
During the séance, amidst the flickering candles and the heavy drapes, Joyce channels the voice of Alicia, Rowena’s late daughter, claiming that one of the guests is her murderer. The room chills, the guests gasp, and Poirot raises an eyebrow. The game is afoot!
As the storm rages outside, trapping all within the palazzo’s ancient walls, Poirot, with his immaculate suit and meticulous methods, interviews the guests. Each character is a delightful caricature, from the traumatized doctor to the thieving assistants planning to escape to St. Louis after watching half of “Meet Me in St. Louis” at a displaced persons camp.
The film weaves a tapestry of intrigue and humour, with Branagh’s Poirot at the centre, orchestrating the dance of detectives and suspects with a twirl of his moustache. The narrative takes us through underground chambers, hidden secrets, and a finale that is as unexpected as a British summer without rain.
“A Haunting in Venice” boasts an ensemble cast that twinkles like the stars above the Venetian night sky. With performances by Kyle Allen, Camille Cottin, Jamie Dornan, Tina Fey, Jude Hill, Ali Khan, Emma Laird, Kelly Reilly, Riccardo Scamarcio, and Michelle Yeoh, each actor brings a unique flavour to this cinematic banquet.
The film, with its blend of mystery and dark comedy, received a warm embrace from audiences and critics alike, grossing $73 million worldwide. It’s a tale that is as rich and complex as a good glass of red wine, with notes of suspense, a hint of the supernatural, and a finish that leaves you smiling and reaching for the popcorn.
In the end, “A Haunting in Venice” is a toast to the golden age of cinema, where stories were told with a wink and a smile, where the villains were dastardly, the heroes were impeccable, and the endings were as satisfying as a cup of tea on a cold winter’s day. So, grab your detective hat, practice your Belgian accent, and dive into a world of mystery and laughter with Hercule Poirot in the enchanting city of Venice.
