DEATH ON THE NILE REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

In 2017, Kenneth Branagh released his adaptation of Agatha Christie’s famous novel, Murder on the Orient Express, which starred a talented ensemble cast including Branagh himself as detective Hercule Poirot, Michelle Pfeiffer, Judi Dench, Penélope Cruz and Johnny Depp. Although I personally enjoyed it, there were those who were less than impressed by what Branagh had created with his take on Murder on the Orient Express and thought that it was pointless as the novel had already been adapted several times and its mysterious story was well known. However, because I hadn’t read Christie’s book, I was unfamiliar with how the narrative unfolded and was pleasantly surprised. Although the response from critics was lukewarm, it was more successful at the box office, making over $352 million. This lead to a follow up being made based on Christie’s novel, Death On The Nile, which was originally scheduled for release in December 2019 but was postponed to October 2020 because of production issues. It was frequently delayed throughout the pandemic. After several delays, Death On The Nile was finally released earlier this month and, like its predecessor, has received a divisive response. Despite this, I was still looking forward to watching Branagh’s take on Christie’s novel but did it meet my expectations?

Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot's Egyptian vacation aboard a glamorous river steamer turns into a terrifying search for a murderer when a picture-perfect couple's idyllic honeymoon is tragically cut short. Set against an epic landscape of sweeping desert vistas and the majestic Giza pyramids, this tale of unbridled passion and incapacitating jealousy features a cosmopolitan group of impeccably dressed travelers, and enough wicked twists and turns to leave audiences guessing until the final, shocking denouement.

Although I found Death on the Nile to be a compelling mystery for the majority of its 127 minute runtime, it’s hard to ignore the controversies caused by several of the cast members. The most shocking is the rape allegations that were made against Armie Hammer in January 2021. This lead to the actor withdrawing from the spotlight after he denied the allegations. As a result, Hammer isn’t involved in any of the promotional material and is hardly seen in the trailer. However, it’s impossible to ignore his appearance in Death on the Nile as Hammer portrays one of the main characters, Simon Doyle. His leading lady, Gal Gadot, also faced criticism after she publicly supported Israel during the 2021 Israel-Palestine crisis. Their co-stars Letitia Wright and Russell Brand, who have small supporting roles in the film, have offended many with their disapproval of the COVID-19 vaccine. However, I can imagine that a lot of people, who aren’t on social media, won’t be aware of the controversy these actors have caused and will be able to enjoy the film. Unfortunately, because I was fully aware, every time Hammer was on screen, it was hard to separate him from his character, Simon Doyle. It did help that Doyle was meant to be arrogant so it made it all the more easier to hate him. Gadot also provided unintentional humour with her over the top performance, including her delivery of the line, “There’s enough champagne to fill the Nile!” which was the main highlight of the film’s official trailer. Those who are aware of the controversy surrounding several of the cast members may have a hard time enjoying Death on the Nile, which is disappointing as it’s a good follow up to Murder on the Orient Express.

Like its predecessor, I hadn’t read Christie’s novel prior to watching Death on the Nile before watching Branagh’s adaptation. As a result, I found it to be a mostly unpredictable watch with clever twists around every corner of the luxurious cruise ship, known as S. S. Karnak. In Murder on the Orient Express, there was only one murder, however, in Death on the Nile, the tension increases as there are more murders, with Poirot struggling to uncover the mystery. Those who enjoy mystery based dramas will, most likely, be impressed by what Branagh has created with his adaptation of Christie’s novel. Like a lot of mysteries, Death on the Nile is filled with interesting characters, most of whom are suspects. The main suspect is Jacqueline de Bellefort (Emma Mackey) who was engaged to Doyle until he ended their relationship and married her best friend, Linnet Ridgeway (Gadot). Angry and filled with jealousy, Jacqueline sneaks onboard the Karnak during the newly married couple’s honeymoon in Egypt. As Jacqueline, Mackey leaves a lasting impression. Her motives for murder are easy to understand, however, she pleads her innocence. I was also most amused to see Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders appear. At first, I was worried that they would simply be there to provide comic relief, however, I’m glad that wasn’t the case and thought that they were good, with the former portraying Linnet’s nurse, Mrs. Bowers, and the latter as her godmother, Marie Van Schuyler. Tom Bateman returns from Murder on the Orient Express as Poirot’s helpful friend, Bouc. Speaking of, Branagh continues to amuse with his portrayal of Poirot, whose backstory is explored in an opening sequence during the First World War, that even explains the reasoning behind his famously large moustache. Although many will argue that David Suchet is the definitive Poirot, Branagh successfully makes the character his own for two hours. 

The first half of Death on the Nile is the weakest as it’s mostly set up as it introduces the characters involved in the mystery. However, the suspense soon increases after the first murder with the pace quickening as Poirot races to find the murderer before they strike again. Like Murder on the Orient Express, Death on the Nile has a claustrophobic feel to it with no where for the murderer to hide or escape.

Although its problematic cast may have put some people off from seeing it, I think that Death on the Nile is a solid follow up to Murder on the Orient Express and provides viewers with two hours of an intriguing mystery drama.

7/10