Movie Title: Death on the Nile

Distributor: 20th Century Studios

Director: Kenneth Branagh

Story By: Agatha Christie

Producers: Kenneth Branagh, Ridley Scott, Judy Hofflund, Kevin J. Walsh...

Release Date: Feb 11, 2022

MPAA: PG-13

Film Series: Murder on the Orient Express

Running Time: 2 hr 7 min

Genres: Crime|Drama|Mystery

Budget: $90million

Widest Release: 3,420 theaters

About Movie: Death On The Nile (2022)

Death on the Nile is a 2022 mystery film directed by Kenneth Branagh from a screenplay by Michael Green, based on the 1937 novel of the same name by Agatha Christie. It was produced by Branagh, Ridley Scott, Judy Hofflund, and Kevin J. Walsh. The film is a sequel to Murder on the Orient Express (2017), Tom Bateman and Branagh returning from the first film as Bouc and Hercule Poirot, respectively. The film also stars Annette Bening, Russell Brand, Ali Fazal, Dawn French, Gal Gadot, Armie Hammer, Rose Leslie, Emma Mackey, Sophie Okonedo, Jennifer Saunders, and Letitia Wright. The film is the third screen adaptation of Christie's novel, following the 1978 film and an episode of the television series Agatha Christie's Poirot broadcast in 2004. Principal photography began in September 2019, with filming taking place at Longcross Studios in England and, completing that December. Some second-unit filming was done in Egypt, but the rest of the movie was shot in England.

Death on the Nile was first released in several international markets on February 9, 2022, and in the United Kingdom and the United States on February 11, following several delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The film received mixed reviews from critics, who perceived it as being inferior to the previous adaptations but appreciated its old-fashioned style. The film has grossed more than $101 million against a production budget of $90 million.

Overview

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.

Casts

Tom Bateman as Bouc: Hercule Poirot's friend and Euphemia's son.

Annette Bening as Euphemia: a renowned painter and Bouc's mother.

Kenneth Branagh as Hercule Poirot: a renowned detective celebrated for his rare deductive skills.

Russell Brand as Linus Windlesham: a former aristocrat-turned-doctor and Linnet's former fiancé.

Ali Fazal as Andrew Katchadourian: Linnet's cousin and trustee.

Dawn French as Mrs. Bowers: Marie Van Schuyler's nurse and clandestine lover.

Gal Gadot as Linnet Ridgeway-Doyle: a wealthy heiress, Simon’s wife and Jacqueline's former friend.

Armie Hammer as Simon Doyle: Linnet's husband and Jacqueline's former lover.

Rose Leslie as Louise Bourget: Linnet's personal maid.

Emma Mackey as Jacqueline "Jackie" de Bellefort: a former friend of Linnet and Simon's scorned lover.

Sophie Okonedo as Salome Otterbourne: a renowned jazz singer and Rosalie's aunt.

Jennifer Saunders as Marie Van Schuyler: Linnet's godmother and a socialite-turned-communist.

Letitia Wright as Rosalie Otterbourne: Salome's niece cum business manager, Linnet's classmate and Bouc's lady-love.

Susannah Fielding as Katherine: Poirot's lover - who is killed during the First World War.

Plot Summary

During the First World War, a young Hercule Poirot skillfully devises a strategy to advance his Belgian company. His plan works, but he fails to save his captain, who is killed by a booby trap; the resulting explosion also mutilates Poirot's face. Although dejected, Katherine—his lover, encourages him to grow a moustache to conceal his scars.

In 1937, Poirot visits a London nightclub, where renowned jazz singer Salome Otterbourne performs. He witnesses socialite Jacqueline "Jackie" de Bellefort introduce her fiancé, Simon Doyle, to her childhood friend—heiress Linnet Ridgeway, in the hopes of securing him employment. Both are instantly smitten by each other, much to Jackie's distress.

Six weeks later, Poirot is vacationing in Egypt, where he encounters his close friend, Bouc and his pessimistic mother, Euphemia—a renowned painter. Bouc introduces him to the now-married Linnet and Simon, who are on their honeymoon. Among the group are some of Linnet's associates: Louise Bourget, Linnet's longtime maid; Andrew Katchadourian, Linnet's cousin and trustee; Marie Van Schuyler, Linnet's communist-leaning godmother and her nurse, Mrs. Bowers; doctor Linus Windlesham, Linnet's former fiancé; Salome, along with her niece and manager, Rosalie, who is also Linnet's old classmate. Much to the discomfort of the couple, Jackie has followed them on their honeymoon, apparently out of bitterness.

Attempting to escape her, the couple boards the steamboat S.S. Karnak, along with Poirot and the rest of the group. During the voyage, Linnet personally reveals to Poirot that she distrusts the group, despite her close associations with them. Simultaneously, Bouc confesses to Poirot that he and Rosalie are in love with each other; the latter gives him his blessing, while the former encourages him to find love.

During a land excursion at Abu Simbel the following day, Euphemia reveals to Bouc that she disapproves of his love for Rosalie, while elsewhere, Poirot begins to take a keen interest in Salome. Concurrently, Simon and Linnet narrowly miss being crushed to death by a falling rock; they hastily return to the boat, only to discover that Jackie has boarded as well. Later that evening, Poirot re-encounters Jackie; the former attempts to dissuade the latter's attempts at stalking, by narrating his tragic past of losing Katherine to a mortar explosion during the war. He explains that not all relationships are meant to be, and advises her to focus on her future, before retiring. Subsequently, after Linnet goes to bed, Jackie confronts Simon over their former relationship; however, he insults her. Enraged, she fires her .22 caliber pistol at his leg, wounding him; she immediately breaks down in remorse. Bouc summons Windlesham to attend to Simon's wounds, while Rosalie and Mrs. Bowers tend to a miserable Jackie.

The following morning, Louise finds Linnet dead in her cabin—having been murdered by a gunshot wound to the temple. Poirot initially suspects Jackie, but rules her out after discovering that she had been sedated by Mrs. Bowers the previous night. Louise is revealed to have held a grudge against Linnet; the latter had ended the former's engagement in order to keep her in her employ. Windlesham is revealed to have been a former nobleman; he denies having murdered Linnet on account of their past. Andrew is revealed to have attempted to embezzle Linnet; he is found to be possessing a .45 caliber gun, ruling him out, too. Mrs. Bowers is revealed to have been from a wealthy family, which fell from grace due to the unscrupulous actions of Linnet's parents during the Great Depression. Synchronously, Poirot deduces that she is not Van Schuyler's nurse, but her lover.

Jackie's gun is recovered from the river, wrapped in Van Schuyler's scarf, which was previously reported missing. Poirot notices that it is missing two bullets and observes that the scarf had been used to dampen the sound of a gunshot. He proceeds to interview Salome, who reveals that she had been racially insulted by Linnet years ago; Poirot notices that she also possesses a gun similar to that of Jackie's. Euphemia interrupts Poirot's interrogation, divulging that she had found Linnet's diamond necklace, which had mysteriously disappeared earlier. Although she denies having stolen it, Poirot reveals to Bouc and the Otterbournes about her true intentions - she had actually enlisted him to spy on Rosalie in order to assess her suitability as a partner for Bouc.

While reprimanding Poirot, Rosalie finds Louise's body, stuck inside the ship's paddle wheel. Windlesham observes that her throat had been slit with a scalpel. While observing the scene, Poirot notices an odd pattern of Louise's blood spattered on a wall, indicating that someone may have witnessed her murder. In a private conversation with Bouc and Simon, Poirot reveals that Bouc was the one who had witnessed Louise's murder; she had chanced upon Linnet's killing and had blackmailed the murderer for money—an act that resulted in her getting killed. Poirot deduces that he had also stolen Linnet's necklace, concluding that he had intended to use it to secure a stable future for him and Rosalie. Bouc admits the truth; however, he is shot dead before he divulges Louise's murderer. Poirot finds and chases the assassin, but in vain. He finds Andrew's gun abandoned on the ship's promenade, having been used to kill Bouc.

Poirot finally deduces the truth behind the murders. He has the crew of the Karnak lock the passengers in the ship's parlor. Armed with Andrew's gun, he concludes that although Andrew had desperately attempted to kill Linnet earlier at Abu Simbel, it was Simon who had murdered her, having acted on Jackie's behalf. Poirot narrates his deduction: the pair are still lovers, and Simon's supposed "romance" with Linnet was actually a scheme by the pair to inherit her vast fortune. On that fateful night, Jackie had actually shot Simon with a blank; he had disguised it with carmine paint stolen from Euphemia. With Bouc and Rosalie distracted by Jackie, Simon had slipped away to Linnet's cabin, killing her. He had then returned and had shot himself in the leg, using Van Schuyler's scarf to deaden the sound. He had further proceeded to place an extra round in the gun, in order to appear as if only two shots had been fired, before disposing of it in the river. Louise had witnessed the pair's actions and had blackmailed them for money, which caused Jackie to kill her and later Bouc, who had witnessed her death as well.

Exposed, Jackie admits the truth. Not wanting to be apprehended, Simon pulls out another gun and points it at Poirot—who, along with Salome, point their respective guns at the couple. Knowing that there is no escape for them, Jackie takes Simon's gun and embraces him; she shoots him through his back, which kills both of them. The next day, the passengers disembark from the vessel. Before leaving, Salome reveals that she was interested in him, but had turned him down upon noticing his cold personality. Six months later, a clean-shaven Poirot attends Salome's performance at her London nightclub; he is revealed to be the only audience member there, as the club is closing for the night.