Death on the Nile, produced by 20th Century Studios, was released worldwide on 11 February 2022. Though it has been met with mixed and even scathing reviews, I recently went to watch it and thoroughly enjoyed it for numerous reasons. Here are my thoughts on why Death on the Nile is a must-see.
Synopsis
Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot’s Egyptian vacation aboard a glamorous river steamer turns into a terrifying search for a murderer when a picture-perfect couple’s idyllic honeymoon is tragically cut short. Set against an epic landscape of sweeping desert vistas and the majestic Giza pyramids, this tale of unbridled passion and incapacitating jealousy features a cosmopolitan group of impeccably dressed travellers, and enough wicked twists and turns to leave audiences guessing until the final, shocking denouement.
Death on the Nile is a veneer of sophistication, sexiness, glamour, and romance; and in the most extraordinary place.
Kenneth Branagh (Director of Death on the Nile)
The Direction
As much as I might disagree with certain elements (read on to see why), I think that Kenneth Branagh‘s adaptation of the 1937 story of Death on the Nile is beautiful! Branagh not only directed the movie but reprised his role as Hercule Poirot following the 2017 film Murder on the Orient Express. Branagh has directed a range of movies, such as Thor (2011) and Cinderella (2015), and has a distinct style. In Death on the Nile, he cleverly uses film techniques to give the audience clues as to who the murderer is, which all comes together at the end. The movie was impeccably shot and I believe that Agatha Christie would be proud to see her book come to life in this screenplay.
The Cast
The acting is faultless in this film. This is a star-studded cast ranging from legendary performers to established actors, and up-and-comers who fit their roles perfectly. Interestingly, many of the cast is from a comedy background, yet play their roles incredibly well in this mystery-thriller.
I particularly enjoyed seeing Emma MacKey, whose career launched with Netflix’s Sex Education. While she plays an emo teen in the series, in Death on the Nile, we get to see her show off her range as an actress. Her character is somewhat juvenile but sophisticated – something we have not seen in her previous roles.
The Setting
The film takes place in 1937 and is set in Egypt, as is indicated by the title. In the first act, we see what is stereotypically associated with Egypt (the pyramids of Giza and The Great Sphinx of Giza), as well as a lavish hotel inspired by the Old Cataract Hotel. The cinematography and visual effects are stunning, creating a sense of expanse and grandeur.
A central set was the river steamer, the Karnak, where most of the film takes place. The set was immaculate and, as the cast indicated, was packed with astounding detail.
As the film progresses, we see less of Egypt and focus more on the Karnak. I believe this was intentional to make the audience feel closed in like the characters felt in the story.
The Costumes
The costumes in Death on the Nile are stunning. While the costumes look like they are of that era to the untrained eye, Costume Designer Paco Delgado took a more contemporary approach. He drew inspiration from cinema-style clothing of the period. The costumes are exquisite and Delgado was intentional about the wardrobe of each character, which gives another layer of detail about who they are.
The Music
In the trailer of the film, Branagh chose to use Depeche Mode’s 1990 single Policy of Truth. This was an interesting choice since all the music in the movie is of that time (the 1930s). This was also done for the Murder on the Orient Express trailer, which used Believer by Imagine Dragons. As Screen Rant Writer Sandy Schaefer surmises, “these songs were presumably chosen because they make these films seem less like stuffy highbrow literary adaptations intended primarily for older audiences, and closer to something other people might want to check out.”
The score of Death on the Nile was composed by Patrick Doyle who is credited for an impressive 69 films across various genres. The score is beautiful and accompanies the setting and story wonderfully. The songs of that era used in the movie are also great and have introduced me to music and artists I wasn’t familiar with. Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Lucky Millinder & His Orchestra’s Shout, Sister Shout was a highlight for me and has led me to discovering similar songs since hearing it in the movie.
What I Didn’t Like
I enjoyed everything other than, ironically, Hercule Poirot’s story. At the beginning and end of the film, we focus on Poirot. It felt out of place, to my mind, and completely unnecessary since it was not centred around the main plot of the story. I have not read the book, but from what I can see online, these were additions by the Director (and Hercule Poirot actor) Kenneth Branagh. While Poirot is the protagonist of the film, I felt the beginning back-story and end could have been left out completely and had no impact on the narrative. As Screen Studies Lecturer Stuart Richards points out, “In Branagh’s film, the central murder happens far too late in the narrative: the murder happening 70 minutes into a two hour film leaves insufficient time for the investigation.” Without the back-story at the beginning, this would have reduced this time. Although I felt it was unnecessary, it did not detract from the story.
Final Thoughts
I enjoy a good murder mystery movie or theatre production and Death on the Nile is certainly one. I think some of the reviews have been overly critical and harsh. It’s not the best movie ever made, but it’s beautiful and gripping. I enjoyed this film and would certainly recommend it. If possible, watch it at a cinema (1) to support movie houses who have been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and (2) to appreciate the movie fully.
References and Additional Reading
- Death On The Nile Repeated Orient Express’ Weird Marketing Choice – Screen Rant
- 8 Secrets of the Old Cataract Hotel Agatha Christie’s Muse for Death on the Nile – Third Eye Traveller
- New Death on the Nile forgets that Agatha Christie was a master of murder mystery – Arts24
- Death on the Nile and addressing racism in Agatha Christie – BBC
- Death on the Nile review – Branagh’s Poirot and co are all show – The Guardian