The first reactions are landing for the new Agatha Christie film A Haunting in Venice

A Haunting in Venice is the latest adaptation of Sir Kenneth Branagh’s Agatha Christie, and the first reactions to the new film have now come in ahead of its theatrical release.

Adapted from Christie’s novel Halloween Party, A Haunting in Venice sees the now-retired Hercule Poirot (Branagh) reluctantly attend a Hallow’s Eve séance in post-World War II Venice, where he now lives in a self-imposed exile.

But it’s not long before one of the guests is murdered, and Poirot has to shake off his retirement to solve his latest case.

The lucky few who have already seen A Haunting in Venice have now taken to social media to share their first reactions to the film. So is the new adaptation an early Halloween treat for Christie fans?

“A Haunting in Venice is the best film in Kenneth Branagh’s Hercule Poirot saga. It’s an ingenious, twisted and surprisingly scary whodun, blessed with a nightmarish version of Venice and a stellar cast,” he wrote. The digital spyassistant film editor Mireia Mullor.

Carson Timareditor-in-chief Clapper agreed, calling the film “a fantastic Halloween crime mystery” that is Kenneth Branagh’s best Hercule Poirot to date.

“With incredible visuals, a haunting tone and a satisfying conclusion, this has all the makings of an annual tradition,” he wrote.

Variety Jazz Tangcay he was equally impressed, enjoying one scene in particular. “Loved the Belfast reunion with Jude Hill and Jamie Dornan,” she wrote, adding: “Another brilliant and thrilling thing from Kenneth Branagh.”

“A Haunting In Venice perfectly blends mystery and horror elements in a way that neither overshadows the other,” wrote film critic Rotten Tomatoes. Tessa Smith.

“It’s scary, with fantastic jump spaces and a great mystery. My two favorite genres, so I’m very happy. Tina Fey is fantastic!”

Critical Bill Breawriting for Slash Film, called A Haunting in Venice “another solid Branagh Poirot picture”, while the filmmaker Joe Russo (one half of the Russo Brothers) said it “dripping with the macabre.”

“Halloween Murder Mystery is a wide-angle love fest that’s a welcome stylistic change, trading NILE’s green screens for atmospheric, physical locations,” he explained.

Hello Magazine Rebecca Lewis said the film took “time to find its groove” but proved to be a “captivating” watch that was “helped by a gorgeous production design and score and just enough jump spaces to keep you unconsciously”.

From a less favorable review of the film came Rama Tampubolon of Rama’s Screen, who disagreed with his fellow critics, claiming that A Haunting in Venice “was the weakest of the Hercule Poirot saga”.

“Less predictable than the second film, but it’s a low bar,” he explains. “The disclosures were also downright ridiculous.

“Thank goodness for cinematography that at times kept it from being painfully chatty and giddy.”

Branagh assembled another star-studded cast for A Haunting in Venice, including Yellowstone star Kelly Reilly, Call My Agent’s Camille Cottin, Jamie Dornan, Michelle Yeoh, Tina Fey and Kingstown Mayor Emma Laird, among others.

The film is the third Christie novel that Branagh has directed, following Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile.

Both films had solid, if unspectacular, reviews, but only Murder on the Orient Express was a box office hit with $353 million, and Death on the Nile struggled, grossing just $137 million.

A Haunting in Venice opens in theaters on September 15.

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