Death on the Nile may start off slow, but once it gets going, it delivers a smart, slick, thrilling, and surprisingly moving murder mystery.
Overall Score: 10/10
Image: 20th Century Studios
After the success of Murder on the Orient Express, Kenneth Branagh and Michael Green have once again decided to produce another one of Agatha Christie’s famous Hercule Poirot novels: Death on the Nile, the other mystery that involves Poirot solving murders on a moving vehicle — only this time he’s running around on a ship instead of on a train. Like its predecessor, Death on the Nile has seen its fair share of onscreen adaptations, which begs the question: what does yet another adaptation of this book have to offer?
The movie begins at a rather slow pace, taking its time to lay out the foundations for its story and its characters. Once it picks up steam, however, it begins effectively tying together its carefully-laid-out plot threads and plunges its audience straight into the heart of the mystery.
Having read the book more than a few years prior, I already knew most of what happens — or so I thought — and didn’t really expect to be wowed. In truth, however, halfway through the movie, I realized that I had forgotten much of the details of the plot, allowing me a somewhat fresh and unbiased experience of watching the film. The result? I got to fully enjoy a slick, intelligent, and thrilling whodunit and be shocked by its many twists and turns.
I must say, nearly everything about The Death on the Nile screams “perfection”. From the amazing set pieces to the dazzling visuals to the beautiful costume designs, the movie is practically covered in a delicious-looking glaze. There were, of course, a few shots in the film that seemed a little cheap and unpolished (I mean, come on, anyone can clearly tell a fake sky from a real one) and there were a few instances where the pacing felt a tad bit off, but luckily, they only appeared during the first act and were few in number.
As for the cast, Branagh has once again assembled a cast of formidable actors, most of whom give fantastic and magnetic performances. Everyone was perfectly cast and they all manage to bring their characters to life and give them distinct personalities. Some standouts include Branagh himself, Emma Mackey, Letitia Wright, and Tom Bateman.
Also, there’s no denying that a number of the cast members are rather attractive. Of course, I’m not saying that to objectify anyone, but one has to admit that the movie does a good job of fully and unashamedly embracing its cast’s sex appeal — that of the younger generation of actors, of course — and using it to capture the story’s lustful atmosphere without being too explicit.
On another note, what has gray hair, sticks to your face, and seems to have a presence of its own? That’s right, you guessed it: it’s Poirot’s mustache! Now, I know that on paper, at least, the idea of giving a movie protagonist’s facial hair a tragic backstory may sound ridiculous, but Branagh and Green manage to handle it in a way that not only adds to the overall story but also gives some much welcomed — and certainly unexpected — depth to Poirot’s character.
Speaking of unexpected character development, we mustn’t forget about Bouc, a character that was carried over from the previous film and one that is nonexistent in the book. I will not lie when I say that I didn’t particularly care for Bouc in Murder on the Orient Express (I initially found him annoying and painfully over-the-top). Death on the Nile, however, redeems the character by making him one of the most rounded-out members of the supporting cast and further delving into the friendship he and Poirot share.
All in all, the movie may not be perfect, but in this case, its merits and strengths largely overshadow its flaws. And while it certainly didn’t reduce me to tears the same way Murder on the Orient Express did, Death on the Nile packs more than enough of an emotional punch to keep audiences invested in its story and its characters. Furthermore, it is extremely well made, with the final result being a smart, fun, and, at more points than one, chilling murder mystery. And as a fan of Agatha Christie and her Hercule Poirot books, I have to say, I can’t wait to see more.
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