A Haunting in Venice
Happy Hubie Halloween! Wait, wrong movie…
Kenneth Branagh’s third outing as esteemed detective Hercule Poirot may be his best yet. With stunning cinematography, great direction, and a fun story with spooky vibes – this film impresses and, at times, stuns.
My wife and I arrived at the theater with moments to spare. We slid into our seats, reclined, and watched the second half of a trailer for The Marvels before our film began. I didn’t notice until a few minutes in, but the projector wasn’t properly aligned, meaning the bottom portion of the frame was missing. A damn shame.
The film is slow to establish most of its characters, but quick to tell you that Poirot is back, and his mustache is as glorious as ever. Watching him has given me quite a case of stache-envy.
If you like Dutch angles, this is the film for you. They are employed at every opportunity; even the establishing shots are canted, informing you that something is amiss in the canal-filled city of Venice.
I cannot think of a frame or shot in this film that I did not think was great or fun to look at. It has been awhile since I’ve seen a film in which the camerawork did so much in terms of storytelling. Clearly more thought had been put into this one than many other films of the year. The people who made this, particularly Branagh, cared deeply about it. I always find it impressive when a lead actor can also direct themselves this well. Off the top of my head, this might be my favorite example of this.
I thoroughly enjoyed the vibes on display here. It was spooky, but not scary. It teased you with terror, but rarely tried to scare you. And when it did, it hit you with humor to ease, but not break, the tension. I laughed a whole lot more than I expected I would – which to be clear was not at all.
My biggest quarrel (sorry, Lockhart) was how long it took to get a proper understanding of the characters and the relationships between them. I couldn’t quite figure out who was related to who, who hated who, and why everyone was there. It may have just been a “me” problem, but it was a big issue for me.
Aside from a few big names, the cast was mostly unknown to me, which I appreciated. I don’t need to be thinking “where do I know her from again?” Every few minutes in my murder mystery. The cast worked well together, and for my money, I can’t complain.
Overall, I really really enjoyed this. I’d give it a solid 7/10 (just shy of the ranking I’d give Poirot’s mustache, a solid 10/10). If you like mysteries and don’t mind a potential spook or two, then this is probably for you. I plan on reading Agatha Christie’s Hallowe’en Party soon.
I was excited for this, but my expectations were fairly middling. This definitely exceeded them and made me hopeful for any future Poirot movies that Branagh may decide to bless us with. I will be seated. Hercule Poirot’s Christmas, anyone?
