This time, Kenneth Branagh’s Hercule Poirot meets Tina Fey, Michelle Yeoh, Jamie Dornan or Kelly Reilly in this supernatural crime thriller, perfect for the wait for Halloween.
Both “Murder on the Orient Express” (2017) and “Death on the Nile” (2022) were disappointing, perhaps because the two Agatha Christie classics had already been brought to the big screen and the director of “Thor and Cinderella” was not in was able to convince people of their interest in a new theatrical version. Maybe because it took a while to get used to Kenneth Branagh as Hercule Poirot and David Suchet was still on everyone’s lips.
Everyone has finally found their way for this third work in a now established franchise. The screenwriter Michael Green – with the permission of Agatha Christie’s great-grandson – takes away the lightness and even the liberties with “The Pumpkin Festival”, a novel by the British writer. Kenneth Branagh incorporates elements that are a little bloodier than usual and directs his team of stars more dynamically than in previous features, and we even find in certain lines reflections that were touched on in his excellent Belfast (2021).
This time the action takes place after the Second World War. Hercule Poirot (Kenneth Branagh) has sought refuge in Venice, fleeing anything that might remind him of his detective work. But that changes when his old friend Ariadne Oliver (Tina Fey) visits him. The American cleverly persuades him to take part in a spiritualism session led by Joyce Reynolds (Michelle Yeoh) at the home of Rowena Drake (Kelly Reilly), whose daughter has committed suicide. The enchanted Venetian palazzo apparently becomes the scene of a particularly brutal murder, the mystery of which Poirot vows to solve.
The supernatural atmosphere, the effective music by Hildur Gunadóttir (we still remember his soundtrack to What They Say, a gem), the completely disturbing setting of the palazzo cut off from the world during a storm and the cleverly chosen actors contribute to us valid until October 31st.
P.-S. Contrary to what is claimed by Disney/20th Century studios in particular, there are no “horror” elements in “Mystery in Venice”.
“Mystery in Venice” will be in cinemas from September 15th.
Rating: 3 out of 5