A Haunting in Venice Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Poirot goes to a haunted house, gets spooked by some honey, and then blames everything on the mom.

🍿 A Haunting in Venice: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Poirot’s Retirement Interrupted

In post-World War II Venice, a retired and disillusioned Hercule Poirot attempts to live a quiet life. However, his peace is shattered when his friend, the mystery novelist Ariadne Oliver, coaxes him to attend a Halloween seance at a supposedly haunted palazzo. She hopes Poirot can debunk the medium’s claims of contacting the dead.

The Seance and a Murder

The seance takes place at the decaying home of Rowena Drake, a former opera singer mourning the death of her daughter, Alicia. During the seance, led by the medium Joyce Reynolds, strange occurrences escalate, and one of the guests is murdered. Poirot, despite his skepticism, finds himself drawn into solving the mystery.

Investigation and Rising Suspicions

As a storm traps everyone inside the palazzo, Poirot begins his investigation, interviewing each guest and uncovering their secrets. The prime suspects include Dr. Leslie Ferrier, a traumatized physician; Olga Seminoff, the loyal housekeeper; and Maxime Gerard, Alicia’s former fiance. Poirot grapples with both the logical clues and the possibility of supernatural forces at play.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Hercule Poirot (Kenneth Branagh): A retired but brilliant detective who is drawn into a murder investigation during a seance in Venice.
• Ariadne Oliver (Tina Fey): A famous mystery novelist and old friend of Poirot who invites him to the seance in hopes of inspiration for her next book.
• Rowena Drake (Kelly Reilly): A former opera singer and grieving mother who hosts the seance at her haunted palazzo.
• Joyce Reynolds (Michelle Yeoh): A renowned medium whose claims of communicating with the dead are tested during the fateful seance.
• Dr. Leslie Ferrier (Jamie Dornan): A traumatized doctor suffering from PTSD and guilt who cared for Rowena Drake’s deceased daughter.
• Leopold Ferrier (Jude Hill): Dr. Ferrier’s precocious and observant son, who claims to hear the voices of the ghost children and blackmailed Rowena.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Ariadne Oliver: “Scary stories make real life a little less scary.” – Ariadne says it to Poirot in Venice, emphasizing how a mystery can take their mind off things.
• Hercule Poirot: “Tell the police not to worry, Hercule Poirot is on the case.” – Poirot emphatically declares to his bodyguard that is is back on the case.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $60,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $42,471,412
• Worldwide Gross: $122,290,456

💥 A Haunting in Venice Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so I went into this expecting a spooky Poirot mystery, and while it definitely had the Venice atmosphere down, I was a little let down. The story was just okay, and honestly, I saw the twist coming a mile away. Still, Kenneth Branagh is always fun to watch, and I did jump a couple of times during the seance scene. It wasn’t my favorite Poirot movie, but it was still an enjoyable way to spend a rainy afternoon. I especially liked the scenes with the kid; he was surprisingly creepy!

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of Agatha Christie adaptations”
  • “Lovers of murder mysteries”
  • “Viewers who enjoy gothic horror and suspenseful thrillers”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Supernatural themes”
  • “Murder and violence”
  • “PTSD themes”
  • “Disturbing imagery”

Professional Reviews

• Variety: “Branagh delivers another stylish Poirot outing, but the plot feels convoluted and relies too heavily on jump scares rather than genuine suspense. Michelle Yeoh shines, but even her talents can’t fully elevate the lackluster narrative. The Venice setting is beautiful, but ultimately feels wasted on a story that doesn’t quite come together.
• The Hollywood Reporter: “A visually stunning film with strong performances, particularly from Branagh and Reilly, but the script lacks the intricate plotting of classic Christie mysteries. The supernatural elements feel forced and distract from the core mystery. Ultimately, a decent, but not exceptional, addition to the Poirot franchise.
• Empire: “A Haunting in Venice is a decent entry in Branagh’s Poirot series, but the scares are cheap and the mystery predictable. Venice is a great setting but is not fully explored. Overall, it’s an enjoyable enough watch, but hardly a classic.

Audience Reactions

The Venice setting provided a beautifully atmospheric backdrop for the mystery.: Most viewers appreciated the visual style of the film, even if the plot wasn’t always engaging.

Kenneth Branagh’s portrayal of Poirot was a highlight for many fans.: Branagh’s performance was generally seen as a strong point, though some felt it deviated from the traditional character.

Overall Consensus: A visually appealing but flawed mystery that may appeal to fans of the Poirot character, but ultimately falls short of classic Agatha Christie adaptations.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Kenneth Branagh intentionally kept the cast in the dark about sudden changes in lighting, gusts of wind, and slamming doors to elicit genuine startled reactions, particularly during the seance scene.”
• “The film is loosely based on Agatha Christie’s novel ‘Hallowe’en Party’, but the setting, characters, and many plot details were significantly altered for the adaptation.”
• “Michelle Yeoh’s role as Joyce Reynolds marks one of her most substantial parts in a Western film in recent years.”

🖥️ How to Watch A Haunting in Venice?

A Haunting in Venice is available to rent or buy on several platforms, including Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check local listings for availability.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed A Haunting in Venice, you might like these similar films:

• Knives Out (2019): A modern whodunit with a star-studded cast, intricate mystery, and sharp social commentary, appealing to fans of the mystery genre.
• The Others (2001): A psychological horror with a strong atmosphere of suspense and secrets, focusing on the blurring lines between reality and the supernatural within a confined setting.
• The Changeling (1980): A classic haunted house film with a focus on atmosphere and psychological tension.

🛒 A Haunting in Venice Related Products

• Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot: The Complete Collection: A comprehensive collection of Agatha Christie’s novels and short stories featuring Hercule Poirot. Relive the original adventures that inspired the movie with this complete set.
• Poirot: Series 1-13 [DVD]: The complete series of Poirot starring David Suchet. Enjoy a faithful adaptation of all stories from the Agatha Christie books with a fan-favorite Poirot.
• LEGO Ideas Agatha Christie: The Mysterious Mansion: An immersive LEGO set inspired by Agatha Christie’s mystery novels. Construct your own spooky mansion and solve the mystery with iconic characters and intricate details.
• Monopoly: Agatha Christie Edition: A special edition of Monopoly themed around Agatha Christie’s works. Buy, sell, and trade iconic locations from her stories while trying to solve the ultimate mystery.

🎧 Soundtrack

A Haunting in Venice features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “When the Lights Go on Again” – performed by Vera Lynn
• “Theme from A Haunting in Venice” – performed by Hildur Guðnadóttir

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Real Scares On The Set Of A Haunting In Venice

Curious about how they filmed the spooky scenes in ‘A Haunting in Venice’? This video takes you behind-the-scenes to show you the real scares on set. It’s a fascinating look at how they created the spooky atmosphere in the movie.

A Haunting in Venice – Movie Review

Wondering if ‘A Haunting in Venice’ is worth watching? Check out this review by Jeremy Jahns, a trusted movie reviewer. He gives his honest opinion on the movie, discussing its strengths and weaknesses. It’s a helpful video to watch before deciding whether to see the movie.

Mark Kermode reviews A Haunting in Venice – Kermode and Mayo’s Take

Looking for an insightful review of ‘A Haunting in Venice’? Check out this video by Mark Kermode, a renowned film critic. He provides a nuanced analysis of the movie, discussing its themes, performances, and technical aspects. It’s a valuable watch for anyone interested in a deeper understanding of the film.

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