Hey, you know what? This looks pretty good! It certainly looks better than “Death on the Nile,” with its constant CGI backdrops and less-than-great performances. Of course, I’m a sucker for ghost movies, so that might explain why I’m digging what I see here. The film is “set in eerie, post-World War II Venice on All Hallows’ Eve and is a terrifying mystery featuring the return of the celebrated sleuth, Hercule Poirot. Now retired and living in self-imposed exile in the world’s most glamorous city, Poirot reluctantly attends a 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.”
I didn’t realize Poirot retired. But I guess you just can’t keep that big mustache down for long — he’s gotta get back in the action! Once again, Branagh has assembled a star-studded cast, including Kyle Allen, Camille Cottin, Jamie Dornan, Tina Fey, Jude Hill, Ali Khan, Emma Laird, Kelly Reilly, Riccardo Scamarcio, and Michelle Yeoh. The question I have now is: will he keep making these movies? I kind of hope he will. Of course, box office will play a part, too — if no one sees this movie, I doubt they’ll greenlight another. But I’m holding out hope. As long as Branagh is making these mystery movies with big casts, I’ll watch them.
“A Haunting in Venice” scares audiences on September 15, 2023.