A Haunting in Venice 2023
This is another classic whodunnit featuring Kenneth Branagh's portrayal of Hercule Poirot. I didn't rush out and see it, but I was glad to see it got mostly positive reviews, so I went once I got the chance. It is a well made movie, looks great, and while it relies heavily on the Agatha Christie formula, it is a formula that works. This movie has a supernatural tone to it as Poirot is faced with spooky happenings that he cannot explain rationally. As with Death on the Nile I was happily unspoiled in any way, so I feel like I got to enjoy the movie as it was intended. I can quibble with a few details, and I still don't think I quite understand everything, but I enjoyed the movie, and the spooky atmosphere helped. Branagh does a great job, this time as a reluctant detective who wants to step away from all the death and suspicion. The characters maybe aren't quite as interesting and I wasn't crazy about some aspects of the ending, which I will put in a spoiler. So maybe it just misses an A for me, but still probably the best of the three so far.
Written: 22 Sep 2023