A Haunting In Venice movie review: Kenneth Branagh's murder mystery doesn't dazzle enough

Cast: Kenneth Branagh, Kelly Reilly, Michelle Yeoh, Jamie Dornan, Kyle Allen

Director: Kenneth Branagh

Language: English

Kenneth Branagh, the eccentric detective who can solve any case irrespective of its complexity, returns after we saw him in Death On The Nile. In A Haunting In Venice, which serves as a sequel to the narrative of the film above, the first death that happens is that of his own job. He’s now retired and developed keen interest in cakes and pastries; a man whose parents have died mysteriously runs towards him for help before being knocked down by his bodyguard, he just won’t reverse his decision.

An unlikely invite to a Halloween party and a mysterious death forces him to put on his thinking hat (no puns here). The house that acts as the biggest conflict oozes expanse and eeriness in a story that needed to be more pulpy and pulsating. There are some sharp exchanges, breathless monologues, discomforting close-ups, shots of heavy rainfall, and Venice itself. The title is nearly a giveaway, a killer is on the loose and everyone is being haunted in someway or the other. The backdrop is 1947, two years after the second Word War ended.

Just like any other whodunnit, the main motive of the man in charge and the narrative here is to find out who the killer is and why he did what he did. Branagh has years of experience of being Hercule Poirot, and he blends intensity and humor to his performance. The final reveal is mildly disturbing but that OMG exclamation is out of the question. There’s another twist before the final twist that works better and shocks more. But since filmmakers aren’t content with one final twist in current times, it’s fine.

A Haunting In Venice is dark and engaging at times, but it doesn’t dazzle the way it should’ve. I did crack a smile in the end when Poirot finally helped the very guy his bodyguard knocked down. At least he’ll have his answers.

Rating: 2.5 (out of 5 stars)

A Haunting In Venice is now playing in cinemas