Kenneth Branagh’s Hercule Poirot has returned to the screens in another triumphant adaptation of an Agatha Christie mystery. In A Haunting in Venice, we see a retired Hercule Poirot navigating his way away from mysteries after the traumatic events of Death on the Nile and the recent worldly horrors of World War II. An old friend of Poirot’s by the name of Ariadne Oliver (played by Tina Fey) lures him into attending a séance that is being led by an esteemed psychic.

When things go wrong and someone is murdered, Hercule Poirot must step back into his detective shoes and solve the mystery. The question that stands throughout the film is one that humanity has debated for almost all of existence. Is there an afterlife?

Unlike the previous two Kenneth Branagh-led Hercule Poirot movies, A Haunting in Venice leans into horror in ways that are delightful and not overwhelming. While it would’ve been nice for them to have leaned into the horror elements a bit more, I appreciated the balancing act that the movie maintains between mystery and horror. The cast here doesn’t feature as many actors that I am familiar with as in recent installments. However, it still features household names like Tina Fey, Michelle Yeoh, Riccardo Scamarcio, and Jamie Dornan.

These cast members and the others lead to a delightful whodunnit that has you questioning what each character is up to and who is the prime culprit. While I do not want to go into too many specifics regarding the film’s plot so that you can fully experience it yourself, I will say that you should keep an eye on every little bit of the film that is shown. The filmmakers went to great lengths to make almost every single movement of the actors and the usage of props fully add to the mystery in a way that only a true detective can point out. 

The setting of the film takes place mostly in a haunted Venetian palazzo. The lore for the building is set up in a way that is simple and effective but explains it in a way that leaves the audience skeptical in the same way that Hercule Poirot is. Things slowly change in both small and large details that (if noticed) will make you question just how haunted the palazzo is right alongside with Poirot himself.

Of all the actors in this film, Tina Fey and Jude Hill are the two standouts. Tina Fey’s character, Ariadne Oliver, acts as Poirot’s sidekick in place of Tom Bateman’s Bouc from the previous two films. Tina Fey does a fantastic job in this serious role, which is not her usual bread and butter. Jude Hill is a relatively new actor who got started in the main role of 2021’s Belfast, another Kenneth Branagh-directed film. Jude Hill plays Leopold Ferrier, a young boy who is rather serious for his age and whose mannerisms make everyone question what is real.

By the end of the film, I was left with a sense of wonder as to what extent the afterlife may exist. While there are certainly logical and factual explanations for most of what happens within this film, there is also just enough trickery and questioning that forces the characters to question their beliefs. Hopefully, there is enough to make you question the beliefs that you hold as well. Overall, I think that this is a wonderful addition to Kenneth Branagh’s Hercule Poirot films.

While I don’t know if it is my favorite of the three, I believe that this one has enough of a change to it that it is one that I plan to get when it comes to Blu-ray. What did you think of A Haunting in Venice? If you’ve seen it, leave a comment below and let us know what you thought of it. If you are looking for more interesting entertainment, check out Edward Harding’s review of Vinland Saga right here.

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A Haunting in Venice

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8.5

Score

8.5/10

Pros

• Excellent Cast
• Enclosed Setting
• Great Story

Cons

• Could Use More Horror