When Kenneth Branagh returned to the director’s chair — and to Hercule Poirot’s iconic mustache — for Death on the Nile (2022), audiences were invited aboard a lavish Egyptian river cruise where love, betrayal, and greed simmered beneath the surface. Based on Agatha Christie’s 1937 novel, this film is both a sequel to Murder on the Orient Express (2017) and a standalone whodunit, offering a fresh take on one of Christie’s most famous mysteries.
A Story of Passion and Peril
The film opens with a surprising prologue: a World War I battlefield that reveals the origin of Poirot’s meticulous nature — and his signature facial hair. Fast-forward to 1937, and the detective finds himself in Egypt, where newlyweds Linnet Ridgeway (Gal Gadot) and Simon Doyle (Armie Hammer) are celebrating their honeymoon. Simon’s ex-fiancée shadows their idyllic voyage down the Nile, Jacqueline de Bellefort (Emma Mackey), whose presence hints at trouble ahead.
When Linnet is found murdered, Poirot must untangle a web of motives among the glamorous passengers — each with secrets worth killing for. The suspects include a sharp-tongued godmother (Jennifer Saunders), a jazz singer with a past (Sophie Okonedo), and a doctor with hidden heartbreak (Russell Brand).
The Allure of the Nile
Visually, Death on the Nile is a feast. Cinematographer Haris Zambarloukos captures sweeping desert vistas, golden sunsets, and the opulence of the S.S. Karnak. The production design leans into 1930s glamour — from glittering gowns to art deco interiors — creating a setting that feels both romantic and claustrophobic.
Patrick Doyle’s score adds to the atmosphere, blending lush orchestration with bluesy undertones that echo the film’s themes of longing and loss.
A Modern Take on a Classic Mystery
Branagh’s adaptation makes notable changes to Christie’s original, adding backstory to Poirot and expanding certain characters’ roles. While some purists may prefer the 1978 version’s faithfulness to the source, this film leans into emotional depth, exploring how love — in its many forms — can turn destructive.
The pacing is deliberate, with the murder occurring well into the runtime, allowing the audience to soak in the relationships before the tension boils over. This choice divides viewers: some relish the slow-burn buildup, while others crave a swifter plunge into the mystery.
Reception and Legacy
Released in February 2022 after pandemic-related delays, Death on the Nile grossed over $137 million worldwide on a $90–100 million budget. Reviews were mixed, with praise for its visuals and performances — particularly Emma Mackey’s — but criticism for its pacing and CGI-heavy backdrops.
Despite this, the film reaffirmed Branagh’s commitment to reimagining Christie for modern audiences. Its follow-up, A Haunting in Venice (2023), continues this vision, cementing Branagh’s Poirot as a fixture in contemporary mystery cinema.
Final Verdict
Death on the Nile is less about the “who” and more about the “why.” It’s a meditation on obsession, betrayal, and the lengths people will go to protect — or destroy — love. Whether you’re a Christie devotee or a casual mystery fan, it offers a sumptuous, if sometimes slow, journey into the darker currents beneath human desire.
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