Film Review: "Death on the Nile" (2022).

"Murder was just the beginning" in Death on the Nile. This mystery thriller film directed by Kenneth Branagh, adapted by Michael Green, and based on the 1937 novel of the same title by Agatha Christie. It is a sequel to Murder on the Orient Express (2017). 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 dramatic tale of love gone wrong features a cosmopolitan group of impeccably dressed travelers and enough wicked twists and turns to leave audiences guessing until the final, shocking denouement.

In May 2017, prior to the release of Murder on the Orient Express (2017), Branagh expressed interest in further installments if the film was successful. In late November, after the release of Murder on the Orient Express, it was announced that 20th Century Fox was developing Death on the Nile as a sequel with Green returning to pen the adaptation and Branagh set to reprise his role as Poirot, and return as director. In January 2019, Patrick Doyle, a frequent collaborator on Branagh's films, was announced to return to score the installment. By late September, Tom Bateman, Annette Bening, Russell Brand, Ali Fazal, Dawn French, Gal Gadot, Armie Hammer, Rose Leslie, Emma Mackey, Sophie Okonedo, Jennifer Saunders, and Letitia Wright rounded out the film's cast. At the same time, with a budget of $90 million, principal photography commenced and wrapped in late December. Filming took place throughout Morocco and at Longcross Studios in Surrey, England and was shot entirely on large format 65mm film like Murder on the Orient Express. The film had been rescheduled several times due to COVID-19 pandemic and rape allegations against Hammer (with the company deciding against recasting his role reshooting his scenes). The film was originally set for a December 20, 2019 release date, before being rescheduled to October 9, 2020. It was then pushed back two weeks to October 23, and again to December 18, in response to the domestic box office underperformance of Tenet (2020) during the COVID-19 pandemic. In November 2020, the studio removed the film, along with Free Guy (2021), from its upcoming release schedule until further notice. The next month, the film was rescheduled to September 17, 2021. In March 2021, it was then moved to the current February 2022 date.

The film stars Branagh, reprising his role, with Bateman, Bening, Brand, Fazal, French, Gadot, Hammer, Leslie, Mackey, Okonedo, Saunders, and Wright. The film is filled with a surprising and remarkable cast, able to shine with little effort. But, with a glorious mustache that must be seen to be believed, Branagh slips into the role of Hercule Poirot quite comfortably.

Branagh's new adaptation of Christie's Death on the Nile is an enjoyable film brought low by its own imperfections. Overall, the film is a worthwhile bit of fun.

Simon says Death on the Nile receives:

Also, see my reviews for Belfast and Murder on the Orient Express.