A Haunting in Venice (2023)

A Haunting in Venice is the rare whodunit that dresses its puzzle in candlelight and creeping dread, turning Poirot’s razor logic into a lantern against a gorgeously shadowy world. Kenneth Branagh leans into a darker, Halloween-night vibe—storm-battered canals, a decaying palazzo, and the delicious question of whether the chills are supernatural or simply human nature at its worst—without ever losing the pleasures of a classic mystery. The ensemble snaps with personality (including a welcome jolt of comic spark), and the script keeps the revelations coming in a way that feels both elegant and wickedly entertaining. If you want your Agatha Christie with a spookier aftertaste and stylish atmosphere to spare, this one’s an inviting ride; if you prefer your mysteries strictly cozy, it may feel a touch too macabre.

A Haunting in Venice is clearly trying to mash up classic Poirot logic with a gothic ghost-story vibe, trading sunny sleuthing for damp corridors, candlelight, and Halloween dread. The problem is that the mystery often feels more like atmosphere than momentum, with pacing that can drift and a lineup of characters who aren’t quite vivid enough to make you care who’s lying. If you want a sharp, twisty whodunit that crackles with urgency, this may feel oddly sleepy and less suspenseful than its premise promises. That said, Branagh commits to the mood, Venice looks deliciously grim, and if you’re happy with a slow-burn, spooky parlor mystery, it can still be a decent rainy-night watch.