Connect with us
DEATH ON THE NILE review
Image: 20th Century Studios

Film

Death on the Nile is Enjoyable but Disposable

Murder was just the beginning…

Few directors toggle as easily between high- and middle-brow as Kenneth Branagh. He’s directed Shakespearean adaptations, superhero films, mediocre Disney stuff, and even a misbegotten Jack Ryan reboot. Branagh has directed 19 films since 1989, although six of them have come out since 2017. 

That run began with 2017’s adaptation of Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express, and now Branagh — whose successfully Oscar-grubbing autobiographical drama Belfast came out only last fall — has returned with a second installment in his Hercule Poirot mini-franchise, Death on the Nile. 

Filmed prior to Belfast, and delayed multiple times due to both COVID and, presumably, complications involving the offscreen life of a certain cast member, Death on the Nile is a perfectly entertaining whodunit that goes deeper into Poirot’s personal history than this type of movie typically does. That said, I’d almost forgotten everything about it by the time I got back to the car. 

Image: 20th Century Studios

Death on the Nile is based on the 1937 novel by Christie, and while Murder on the Orient Express was about a murder on a train, the new movie moves the action, mostly, to a boat. Once again, it’s a murder mystery set in a confined space in which anyone could be a suspect. This one, however, opens with a flashback to World War I, in which we’re shown how Poirot (Branagh) got the wounds that he covers with his famous facial hair. 

A group has gathered, in an Egyptian resort and later on a boat cruise down the titular river, to celebrate the recent marriage of Linnet (Gal Gadot) and Simon (Armie Hammer, in one of the last projects he shot prior to his recent cannibalism-related cancellation.) Simon was recently engaged to Linnet’s best friend Jacqueline (Emma Mackey), who has shown up uninvited to the festivities. 

As you may have guessed, somebody gets murdered, and suspicion falls on various people at different times. There’s Bouc (Tom Bateman), a mama’s boy, as well as his mama (Annette Bening). There’s a doctor, played by an unrecognizable Russell Brand, and a doctor (Ali Fazal), as well as a maid (Game of Thrones’ Rose Leslie.) Intriguingly, there’s also Linnet’s godmother (Absolutely Fabulous veteran Jennifer Saunders), who happens to be a communist. And Sophie Okonedo plays a jazz singer, who’s accompanied by her niece (Letitia Wright.) 

DEATH ON THE NILE
Image: 20th Century Studios

The plot turns the way it almost always does in a Christie story, with numerous red herrings throughout. The question of why Poirot is even there is among the many obfuscations. 

The film is relatively well-shot and mounted, with the scenario gorgeous and the boat a fine and well-explored set. And the cast acquits themselves well, whether they’re big stars or not, with Hammer doing a decent job in what’s likely to be the last time we see him for a good while. 

Entertaining as Death on the Nile is, it’s very disposable, and very much not a film that’s likely to stay with you. 

Watch Death of the Nile

Now Streaming

Written By

Stephen Silver is a journalist and film critic based in the Philadelphia area. He is the co-founder of the Philadelphia Film Critics Circle and a Rotten Tomatoes-listed critic since 2008, and his work has appeared in New York Press, Philly Voice, The Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Tablet, The Times of Israel, and RogerEbert.com. In 2009, he became the first American journalist to interview both a sitting FCC chairman and a sitting host of "Jeopardy" on the same day.

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Facebook

Trending

Warfare review: Joseph Quinn and Will Poulter suffer the horrors of combat — but to what end?

Film

IShowSpeed Brings Chaos And Star Power To DICK’S Sporting Goods

Celebrity

Dawn Robinson Blasts Jermaine Dupri For Criticizing Her Living Conditions

Celebrity

Grimes shares autism and ADHD diagnosis, reflects on childhood learning struggles

Celebrity

Summer Walker Channels Marvin Sapp After Chris Brown Announces More Breezy Bowl XX Dates

Celebrity

The White Lotus Creator Mike White Responds To Composer’s Controversial Exit

Celebrity

Jess Hilarious & Loren LoRosa Settle Their “Breakfast Club” Differences In Gut-Busting Skit

Celebrity

Billie Eilish and Finneas Join Jason Owen’s Sandbox Management

Celebrity

Eminem Officially Becomes A Grandpa As Daughter Hailie Jade Welcomes First Child

Celebrity

This Cancelled Minecraft Movie Concept Art Looks Better Than What We Got

Film

Bill Murray Says There’s One Director He Wishes He Had Worked With: ‘It’s One of the Few Regrets I Have’

Celebrity

22 acts we can’t wait to see at Coachella 2025

Celebrity

Nelly Wants Court To Impose Sanctions On Ali Jones For Dropped St. Lunatics Lawsuit

Celebrity

G20 review: President Viola Davis goes Rambo against Antony Starr’s crypto bro terrorist

Film

NLE Choppa Introduces His New Children’s Book To Memphis Preschoolers With A Read-A-Long

Celebrity

Big U Is Considering Asking Donald Trump For Help With His Massive RICO Case

Celebrity

Connect