Film Review: Death on the Nile

Director: Kenneth Branagh
Starring: Kenneth Branagh, Gal Gadot, Emma Mackey
Running time: 127 minutes

After spending an eternity in post-production, and with the Armie Hammer controversy casting a long shadow over the film (look it up for yourself - it’s a tough one to explain), for the longest time the main mystery surrounding Death on the Nile was when the hell it was going to come to cinemas. Well, over two years after it was initially slated for release, it has finally arrived. Yet was it worth the wait? More or less. 

Seemingly taking a break from the world of crime to enjoy a relaxing trip to Egypt, Kenneth Branagh’s moustachioed Hercule Poirot ends up accompanying newly-wed couple Linnet Ridgeway (Gal Gadot) and Simon Doyle (Hammer) on a fancy river cruise, joining an eclectic group of Ridgeway’s friends for a week of sightseeing and champagne - until, wouldn’t you know it, one of the gang is shot dead, bringing a violent end to Poirot’s hiatus. 

For a murder mystery, though, this film takes a hefty chunk of time actually getting to the murder - with almost an hour gone before things really kick into gear. Before this, there is an intense focus on the characters; particularly Poirot, whose personal history is explored, shining a light on how he became a master detective and, more importantly, how he came to grow his borderline ridiculous moustache. 

While Branagh is clearly having a blast in the role and is, for the most part, a joy to watch on-screen, these character beats do distract from the murder-mystery elements of the story. Death on the Nile begins with a flashback to Poirot’s days in the army, highlighting his early intelligence and the inspiration for his iconic facial hair. But this begs the question - does the audience really care? As much as the beloved Belgian’s ticks and strategies are engaging when he’s on the job, very few pay for a cinema ticket to watch a deep dive into his backstory. Cutting out this subplot would streamline the story to focus on the whodunit, rather than they whyheheretosolveit, helping to make the film less laboured and, crucially, much shorter than its sizeable two-hour-plus runtime. 

Once the movie properly gets going, though, it is admittedly a lot of fun. For those who have not read the book, there are twists and turns around every corner, every person onboard coming under genuine suspicion at one point or another. Yet even for those who have, the tension is palpable from the moment the group set off on their luxurious cruise - with Emma Mackey deserving particular praise for her unnerving performance as jealous ex-lover Jacqueline de Bellefort. Each character is memorable in their own way, though, with Michael Green’s script ensuring they are clearly defined without feeling like complete caricatures. Every interaction between these characters and Poirot is delightfully entertaining, and there is genuine humour to be found throughout. 

It is also, for the most part, a visually stunning and thoroughly immersive film - some relatively shoddy greenscreen work aside. The costume design by Paco Delgado and JobanJit Singh is remarkably crafted, fitting the 1930s aesthetic to a tee, and all the events on-screen are underscored by a magnificent soundtrack that helps to fully flesh out this stylish, slick world. 

While this film does have its flaws, with certain storytelling decisions feeling misjudged and, in truth, slightly self-indulgent, this is another enjoyable whodunit from Branagh and his team. Without offering the originality of a Knives Out, Death on the Nile still manages to provide enough laughs, twists and eccentricities to entertain. Yes, it may not have arrived with a bang, but - after surviving a post-production nightmare - it certainly isn’t with a whimper either.

Did you know? This movie reunites comedy partners Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders - both found it hard to remain serious.

Death on the Nile is now available in cinemas