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Review | Death on the Nile movie review: Kenneth Branagh’s return to Agatha Christie’s detective adventures is glossy but dull

  • Rolled out despite the rape allegations concerning cast member Armie Hammer, Death on the Nile looks great but lacks energy, and feels a bit hollow
  • Branagh’s lead is ably supported by Emma Mackey and a stacked cast that includes British comedians Russell Brand, Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders

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Armie Hammer and Gal Gadot in a still from Death on the Nile, directed by Kenneth Branagh, who co-stars. Photo: Rob Youngson/Twentieth Century Fox
James Mottram

2.5/5 stars

Kenneth Branagh is back as Agatha Christie’s famous Belgian detective Hercule Poirot for one of his most famous adventures, Death on the Nile.

Five years ago, Branagh convincingly played him in Murder on the Orient Express, which he also directed. It was a huge hit and another Christie adaptation was always likely. Sadly, Death on the Nile has seen events overtake it. Delayed repeatedly by the coronavirus pandemic, it was also almost torpedoed by rape allegations concerning one of its leads, Armie Hammer.

Rather than recast Hammer and reshoot, studio backers Disney are now rolling this out in the hope the ensemble nature of the cast will overshadow the Hammer scandal. At least Branagh has gathered together a distracting group of actors.

Gal Gadot plays the wealthy Linnet, who steals the handsome but cash-poor Simon (Hammer) from her friend, Jacqueline (Emma Mackey). Linnet and Simon are in Egypt to cement their nuptials with a close party of friends when a distraught Jackie’s unexpected arrival forces them to take a Nile cruise.

Soon there will be bloodshed, murder and suspects everywhere you look. Thankfully, Poirot is on the boat too – after encountering his old friend Bouc (Tom Bateman), who has travelled with his acid-tongued mother (Annette Bening) to join the wedding party.

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