Posted by Directed and starring Kenneth Brannagh, who reprises his role as the mustachioed detective, is A Haunting In Venice – the third film in the recent Hercule Poirot series. AHIV is a whodunnit and has all the trappings of the genre; measured pacing, a period setting, plenty of suspects, an ensemble cast, misdirection, a few red herrings and of course a big reveal at the end. Despite sticking firmly in its lane AHIV is a well woven mystery, with an interesting vein of supernatural horror helping to keep it fresh.
Loosely based on Agatha Christie 1969 book Hallowe’en Party, the year is 1947 and Poirot is enjoying a genteel retirement relaxing and eating fancy cakes in Venice. Friend and mystery writer Ariadne (Tina Fey) coaxes him back into the game to attend a seance by the world famous Joyce Reynolds (Michelle Yeoh) to try and figure out how she does it. The seance is being hosted by opera singer Rowena Drake (Kelly Reilly) at her grand palace, a rather fitting setting full of corridors, nooks, crannies and whispers of ghosts.
What follows is an entertaining mish mash of horror and murder mystery, with a brooding atmosphere and the odd jump scare. It slowly but surely cranks up the mystery and the intrigue, with the spectre of the past looming large, until the satisfying but predictable big reveal. The star studded cast is good value, Tina Fey is the sprightly sidekick, Kelly Reilly inhabits an emotionally tortured opera singer and Michelle Yeoh is a charming mixture of physic and showman. As for Brannagh he has a decent turn as the Belgiun sleuth but he is no David Suchet.
A worthwhile whodunnit that successfully mixes in horror and supernatural elements for an enjoyable, if predictable, Poirot mystery.
7.5/10
Lofty Music and Film 