REVIEW: Murder, Love, Giza Pyramids, and Crisp White Linens in Death on the Nile

While Death On The Nile didn’t have me thinking, ‘I can’t wait to rewatch this,” I absolutely will. 

Death on the Nile is a beautifully directed and visually stunning, murderous, suspense-filled adventure directed by Kenneth Branagh who also returns to the iconic role of detective Hercule Poirot (Murder on the Orient Express). The cast lineup is incredible, including Tom Bateman, four-time Oscar nominee Annette Bening, Russell Brand, Ali Fazal, Dawn French, Gal Gadot, Armie Hammer, Rose Leslie, Emma Mackey, Sophie Okonedo, Jennifer Saunders, and Letitia Wright. 

Murder on the Orient Express writer Michael Green returns to adapt Death on the Nile as his second Christie thriller based on her 1937 novel. The film is produced by Ridley Scott, Kenneth Branagh, p.g.a., Judy Hofflund, p.g.a. and Kevin J. Walsh, with Mark Gordon, Simon Kinberg, Matthew Jenkins, James Prichard, and Mathew Prichard serving as executive producers.

Heiress Linnet Ridgeway, played by Gal Gadot, is seen dancing with her best friend Jacqueline’s (Emma Mackey) fiance (Armie Hammer). Yes, she steals her bestie’s man. The duo marries and is then stalked by Jacqueline for most of the film, popping up all over Egypt on their picture-perfect idyllic honeymoon with a tiny handgun and threatening to make Linnet as miserable as she is.

Detective Poirot is on an Egyptian vacation and ends up aboard a glamorous river steamer hosted by Linnet and her new husband, along with a kaleidoscope of well dressed guests, which quickly turns into a hunt for a murderer.

Death on the Nile has some really beautiful elements, including a stellar cast, stunning visuals with many appealing wide shots of the Nile River, heartwarming sunsets, and party scenes juxtaposed to deep rich hues and crisp tailored whites that make up the fantastic costumes. 

The film was predictable early on, and with some cast giving superior performances and others not so much, it was a bit exhausting at times to get through it all, but it was still enjoyable to go along for the ride. The film definitely provides a bit of escapism. The class and wealth struggles were amusing, but there were some distractions from this quirky whodunit. With so many actors, some got lost or were poorly cast. 

Strong standouts include Sophie Okonedo, who literally puts a spell on you, captivating the screen, Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders, Emma Mackey, Annette Benning, and the brilliant Kenneth Branagh as Hercule Poirot who holds it all together. 

Death on the Nile is in theaters now and streaming on Disney+ after its theatrical run.