‘A Haunting in Venice’ review: For once, Branagh doesn’t murder Agatha Christie
nypost.comI was the poor schlub who was about to be killed. But, while “Murder On The Orient Express” and “Death On The Nile” were hack-job excuses to force as many disparate and ghastly celebrities onscreen as possible, “Haunting” is an actual, surefooted film with strong performances and a luxurious-yet-frightful tone.Running time: 103 minutes.
Rated PG-13 (some strong violence, disturbing images and thematic elements.) In theaters Sept. 15.It certainly helps that Branagh, who once again directs and plays mustachioed Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, is not burdened by stratospheric expectations this time. “Orient Express” and “Nile” are two of the British author’s most cherished works, had been adapted for film and TV on many occasions and starred such luminaries as Albert Finney and Peter Ustinov.
This third entry, by contrast, is based on “Hallowe’en Party,” a largely ignored Christie title that critics gave a drubbing to when it was published back in 1969.
You’ve probably never heard of it, and that’s a good thing.Going further, Branagh and screenwriter Michael Green have relocated the action from Britain to Venice, beefing up the romance and spookiness — no offense, UK — and have all but shredded Christie’s original pages and started from scratch.
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