Posted by Death on the Nile (2022) is the latest murder mystery crime thriller by director Kenneth Branagh. Serving as a sequel to Murder on the Orient Express (2017), Death on the Nile follows renowned detective Hercule Poirot (Branagh) on a scenic Egyptian vacation turned impromptu murder investigation when a happy couple’s honeymoon is tragically cut short.
Based on the 1937 novel by Agatha Christie, Death on the Nile strives to take the audience back in time through gorgeous visuals and high society drama. Filming for Death on the Nile began in late 2019 with 65mm Panavision cameras. Delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic pushed the film’s release date from October 23, 2020, to February 11, 2022.
Key actors, directors, and producers return
Branagh returns as both the director and star of Death on the Nile. Tom Bateman rejoins the cast, reprising his role as Bouc from Murder on the Orient Express (2017). The film also stars Gal Gadot, four-time Academy Award nominee Annette Benning, Russell Brand, Ali Fazal, Dawn French, Armie Hammer, Rose Leslie, Sophie Okonedo, Jennifer Saunders, Letitia Wright, and newcomer Emma Mackey. Ridley Scott serves as the producer, and screenwriter Micheal Green returns to continue the epic adventures of Poirot (Branagh).
Death on The Nile is visually stunning
The film was visually stunning. Cinematographer Haris Zambarloukos stuns the audience with sweeping wide shots. An interesting detail was the persistent divide between Poirot (Branagh) and other characters within the scenes. There was almost always a literal or perceived barrier between the suspects, serving as a clever visual shorthand for distance and mistrust.
The film feels almost whimsical at times, with some genuinely comedic moments to break the tension. Branagh as Poirot delivers a solid performance and delivers his line with clever whit. Poirot’s chemistry with the talented jazz singer Solome Otterbourne (Okonedo) is one of the film’s highlights. The desperate and unhinged performance from Emma Mackey as the scorned former friend of Gal Gadot’s Linnette Ridgeway, Jacqueline de Bellefort, was haunting. She adds to the drama without coming off as cartoonish.
Overall what to expect from “Death on the Nile”
The pacing for the first half of the over two-hour long runtime is a bit slow. The film relies on exposition and lingers too long on inconsequential party sequences. The film could have benefitted from a shorter runtime. The inconsistent use of anachronism in the wardrobe department was distracting. However, the costumes were stunning and well-made.
Overall, Death on the Nile is visually stunning and a fun ode to the classic murder mystery films of the past. The film blends the old with the new and takes the audience on a fun ride.
“Death on the Nile” opens in U.S. theaters on February 11, 2022.
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