Lots of films on my wish list at the moment, from Past Lives and Dumb Money to Expend4bles and The Lesson. All being well, I should have reviews of all of those next week. This time round, I've only managed one trip to the cinema in the last seven days, due to lots of radio shows getting in the way of my popcorn time!
Based on the Agatha Christie novel Hallowe'en Party, A Haunting In Venice opens with some stunning shots of Venice, but seemingly at odd angles. This sets things up nicely for a mystery that will challenge Hercule Poirot's moustache twirling skills to their very limits, as he is tempted out of self-imposed retirement to attend a seance in a creaky old house by the Venetian canal network. Inevitably, someone is murdered in grisly fashion, and he locks the doors in a bid to find out the culprit's identity. As a man who doesn't believe in ghosts or the afterlife, he begins to see and hear things that challenge these preconceptions from fairly early on in the film.
I really liked this movie, and obviously in the best Christie tradition, don't want to drop any obvious plot spoilers. Strong casting, stunning cinematography (especially as I watched it on the IMAX screen), and I didn't manage to guess the ending, although I had my suspicions. It was definitely a big improvement on last year's mediocre Death on the Nile, and I particularly enjoyed Michelle Yeoh as the medium, whilst young Jude Hill is also outstanding (he was also dead good as a young Kenneth Branagh in Belfast, based on his childhood growing up during the Troubles).
Haunted house movies will always be better on the big screen, and this was a bit like a ride on a rickety ghost train at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, but with added Venetian masks, apple bobbing, and pigeons. It's a little early for a Halloween treat, given that particular festival is still over a month away, but it's definitely worth 100 minutes of your time. It's also a welcome change from superhero and sci-fi films that often seem to saturate screens, and I'm sure it will find its audience amongst those looking for something a bit different.
The 1940s setting is well delivered, and it's a good balance of jump scares, humour, and decent characters. Jamie Dornan as the tortured dad haunted by what he's seen during conflict is also worth a mention. Take a ride on a gondola to your nearest cinema and give this one a whirl. It's also really made me want to return to Venice. Such a stunning place. If this spooky, leaky palazzo comes up on Airbnb though, I'll probably elect not to stay the night. Or attend a seance there.
I wonder if Poirot might be back for another bite of the cherry. After all, as Ariadne Oliver (Tina Fey) quips when they meet for dinner - "Venice, a gorgeous relic slowly sinking into the sea, just like your mind without a challenge".
