A Haunting in Venice
A Haunting in Venice

A Haunting in Venice

2023Movie104 minEnglish

Celebrated sleuth Hercule Poirot, now retired and living in self-imposed exile in Venice, reluctantly attends a Halloween séance at a decaying, haunted palazzo. When one of the guests is murdered, the detective is thrust into a sinister world of shadows and secrets.

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Insights

IMDb6.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes74%
Metacritic62/100
Google Users70%
Director: Kenneth BranaghGenres: Mystery, Thriller, Horror, Crime

Plot Summary

Set in a post-World War II Venice on All Hallows' Eve, retired detective Hercule Poirot attends a séance. When one of the guests is murdered, Poirot must once again confront a sinister underworld and a terrifying supernatural phenomenon. He finds himself in a world of shadows and secrets, where even the most mundane can be deadly. The investigation leads him through the city's eerie canals and ancient palazzos.

Critical Reception

A Haunting in Venice received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised its atmospheric direction, Branagh's performance, and the suspenseful nature of the mystery. While some found it a bit slow-paced, many appreciated its departure from previous Poirot adaptations, leaning more into horror elements.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its gothic atmosphere and Kenneth Branagh's assured direction.
  • Hailed as a more suspenseful and chilling entry in the Poirot series.
  • Some critics noted a slower pace but appreciated the horror-infused mystery.

Google audience: Google users largely appreciated the film's spooky atmosphere and engaging mystery, with many commending its unique blend of suspense and supernatural elements. While generally well-received, a segment of viewers found certain plot points predictable.

Fun Fact

The film is based on Agatha Christie's 1968 novel 'Hallowe'en Party,' but it is significantly different from the book, featuring a more supernatural and horror-focused plot.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

6 reviews
tmdb51616167

tmdb51616167

#AHauntingInVenice #MovieReview This film initially presents itself as a horror movie but unfolds more as a murder mystery, deviating from the expectations set by its promotional material. It shares similarities with other movies starrin...
BornKnight

BornKnight

Another take on Agatha Christie's books, this one takes the "Hallowe'en Party" (1969), into the screen on a loose adaptation. Again Kenneth Branagh leads on the direction and main role (the belgian detective Hercule Poirot), while on his ...
RobMcJ

RobMcJ

While Kenneth Branagh is not our favourite Poirot, we like seeing Agatha Christie tales on the big screen. (We want to encourage more murder mysteries to be made.) Much improved over Death on the Nile, this one gives us interesting establis...
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

Unlike his other two Christie adaptations featuring this character, this film does not have a previous, star-studded, version with which to compare. That's a good thing because this is certainly not one of the author's stronger stories. "Po...
Manuel São Bento

Manuel São Bento

FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.firstshowing.net/2023/review-kenneth-branaghs-a-haunting-in-venice-is-quite-the-horror-mystery/ "A Haunting in Venice is, by some margin, the best adaptation of the now trilogy featuring Hercule Poi...
Brent Marchant

Brent Marchant

The one thing a good whodunnit should not do is put its audience to sleep. Unfortunately, this latest cinematic adaptation of an Agatha Christie novel fails miserably on this score. Director Kenneth Branagh’s third outing as Belgian sleuth ...