Title: A HAUNTING IN VENICE
The 3rd installment of the Kenneth Branagh "Poirot" franchise. Poirot is "retired". He's constantly mobbed by people wanting him to help them. He has a bodyguard that keeps them at bay.
He's approached by Ariadne Oliver (Tina Fey) a Mystery Writer who has apparently made her living by writing Poirot's cases as Mystery Novels. She convinces him to attend a Halloween party at a huge mansion belonging to an Opera Singer. The main event will be a Séance performed by a famous medium (Michelle Yeoh).
Poirot is to prove that she's a fraud. The séance begins, Poirot interrupts and exposes the various schemes. He tries to leave but Araidne convinces him to stay, putting her mask on him. a few minutes later someone tries to drown Poirot while he's bobbing for apples.
A scream is heard and the medium is found impaled on a fence. Per the usual formula, the group is trapped in the building by a violent storm. Chaos ensues. As with the previous films, there are twists and turns and half of the cast is responsible for the killings while Poirot walks around like a prima-donna.
FUN: If you liked Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile, you should like this one.
Preachy: Not at all. Pretty formulaic.
