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A Haunting in Venice (2023) - Theme over story telling

 "A Haunting in Venice" (2023) - this is the 3rd of Kenneth Branaugh's Agatha Christie's novels he has brought to screen. I have seen them all. I don't think I have ever read one of her stories, but I have watched several movie & TV versions. 

Just to sum up this particular film, these are the content warnings for KB's version: [Flashing lights, some thematic elements, some strong violence, disturbing images]. 

Yup - that sums the film. Plot, character & dialog ... whatever. This movie is a symphony of thematic elements and disturbing imagery along with enough flashing lights that you think your TV might be broken. There are also some people performing unbelievable feats of strength that are indeed violent.

I enjoyed myself. As a form of motion picture entertainment that set out to 'psychologically thrill' me, it works. As an exercise in cinematic story telling based on the writing of arguably the best, most prolific, and popular mystery author of all time -- sheesh. Even more than the first 2, I do not believe he was even trying to tell her story.

I hope he keeps at it. He is one of the few people to spend time producing movies based on complex pieces of literature. I just wish in this case; he would have found a way to combine his desire for intense style with Agatha Christie's superlative writing.

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