– Strong Performances, But a Muddled Mystery
A Haunting in Venice had a trailer that promised a dark, chilling, and possibly supernatural twist on the Agatha Christie universe—and I was genuinely excited for it. I was hoping for something that leaned a little more into horror, something atmospheric and spine-tingling. What I got instead was a film that felt visually rich but ultimately overdone.
One of the big missteps here, at least for me, was the departure from the core of what makes the Poirot stories work. Traditionally, these mysteries are grounded in the idea that every strange occurrence has a logical explanation. That’s part of the appeal: watching Poirot sift through the chaos and bring clarity. But this film leans into the supernatural more than I expected—almost as if it wanted to blur the lines between horror and detective story, and that shift just didn’t land for me.
There are moments of intrigue, and to be fair, the production design is gorgeous. The film is set almost entirely in a grand, crumbling Venetian palazzo, and the moody lighting and gothic atmosphere do give it a haunting visual style. The acting is solid across the board—Kenneth Branagh continues to embody Poirot with gravitas, and the supporting cast (including Michelle Yeoh) does their part.
But the story never quite comes together. The pacing is sluggish, and despite the supernatural elements, it lacks the kind of suspense or dread that the trailer suggested. In fact, most of the “horror” moments feel tame or predictable.
By the end, I found myself wondering if this would have worked better without Poirot at the center—if it had simply been a standalone gothic mystery, maybe it would have felt more cohesive. As is, the film left me disappointed. It’s not a bad movie, but it’s not the one I was promised.
Leave a Reply