Death on the Nile review

Going down with the ship

Kenneth Branagh stars as Hercule Poirot in Death on the Nile
Kenneth Branagh stars as Hercule Poirot in Death on the Nile.
(Image: © 20th Century Studios/Walt Disney Company)

TechRadar Verdict

Pros

  • +

    Suspenseful once its plot gets going

  • +

    Reasonably good cast performances

Cons

  • -

    First half is ponderous and sluggish

  • -

    Unnecessary character alterations

  • -

    Armie Hammer's inclusion is unsettling

  • -

    VFX feels tacky

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

It’s something of an irony that Death on the Nile, the renowned murder-mystery novel from iconic author Agatha Christie, takes place on the world’s longest river.

Why? Because the Nile’s lengthy and meandering profile is a perfect metaphor for Death on the Nile’s latest live-action adaptation – a drawn-out, ponderous affair that’s full of style but lacking in substance.

Kenneth Branagh’s latest remake of another beloved Christie novel isn’t a complete bust; some fine casting choices and narrative elements make for a pleasing watch on occasion. Ultimately, though, Death on the Nile is an unnecessary, slightly self-indulgent interpretation of a tale that established Christie fans and newcomers alike may struggle to enjoy.

Sailing against the tide

Gal Gadot and Ali Fazal share a moment in Death on the Nile

Linnet Doyle and Andrew Katchadourian chatting in Death on the Nile. (Image credit: 20th Century Studios/Walt Disney Company)

Set in 1937, Death on the Nile reunites audiences with renowned Belgian detective Hercule Poirot (Branagh), who boards the S.S. Karnak to try to enjoy some much-needed downtime.

Poirot’s relaxing and scenic trip down the famous Egyptian river is short-lived, however, when one of his fellow guests is found murdered. Aided by his trusted sidekick and long-time friend Bouc (Tom Bateman) once more, Poirot must work tirelessly to identify the culprit before the Karnak reaches its next destination.

Understandably, Branagh’s Death on the Nile follows the story exactly as it’s told in Christie’s world-famous novel. Vital plot points play out in the same order that they do in the source material, which is unsurprising, given that embellishing or subtracting story elements would spoil its flow. Long-time fans of Christie’s works, then, shouldn’t worry about superfluous narrative alterations being added here.

Hercule Poirot points a gun at his suspects in Death on the Nile

Hercule Poirot points a gun at the suspects in Death on the Nile. (Image credit: 20th Century Studios/Walt Disney Company)

The main problem Branagh’s Death on the Nile has, though, is that it takes too long to get going. Like his 2017 remake of Murder on the Orient Express, Death on the Nile spends too much time setting up its characters, locations, and pretext to upcoming events. Narratively, it’s excessively safe and sluggish.

And that’s a shame because, once the crime has been committed and Poirot’s investigation begins, Death on the Nile actually feels like a decent murder-mystery movie. An intricate tapestry of lies is woven throughout the film’s second half, with Poirot racing to prevent more unnecessary offenses being committed. Poirot’s interrogations of each passenger feel tense, culminating in a suspenseful finale where the renowned detective eventually reveals the individual behind the elaborate scheme.

Unfortunately, the movie’s slightly thrilling second part isn’t enough to save it. The world’s best whodunits provide regular thrills throughout but, whether by design of the story it’s based on or how the film has been edited, Death on the Nile doesn’t leave you on tenterhooks. Its twists and turns are arguably superior to Murder on the Orient Express’s, but it isn’t as gripping narratively as it should be. Spending less time setting things up, and devoting more minutes to the mystery itself, would have made for a tighter, more interesting plot.

Shifting sands

Tom Bateman and Annette Benning as seen in Death on the Nile

Euphemia and Bouc share a moment in Death on the Nile. (Image credit: 20th Century Studios/Walt Disney Company)

While its story remains intact, some creative liberties have been taken elsewhere. Yes, key characters, such as Gal Gadot’s Linnet Ridgeway-Doyle are largely untouched, but other supporting cast members have been changed, added, or even removed completely. 

Ali Fazal’s Andrew Katchadourian, for instance, is a revised incarnation of Andrew Pennington from Christie’s novel. Meanwhile, Bateman’s Bouc – who isn’t even in Christie’s original tale – is merely included as a plot device that helps to drive the emotional aspect of the film’s narrative. Such tweaks aren’t deal-breakers but, unlike Death on the Nile’s major story threads – which haven’t been altered – some diehard Christie fans may wonder why these character changes were necessary.

One cast member that viewers may be surprised to see in the final cut is Armie Hammer. 

The controversy that has surrounded the actor since January 2021, and the further accusations made against him since, make his appearance in Death on the Nile an unsettling one. That Hammer plays a significant role in the film as Simon Doyle, Linnet’s husband, only makes his inclusion all the more unpalatable. In fact, Hammer’s appearance may be enough to put potential theater-goers off seeing the film at all.

The potential to recast Hammer and reshoot the whole film was reportedly on the table, but the sheer cost of doing so, and the pandemic’s emergence in March 2020, put paid to those plans. Even so, seeing Hammer in a movie of this scale is likely to concern and potentially upset many viewers.

Linnet Ridgeway and Simon Doyle looking shocked in Death on the Nile

The S.S. Karnak guests are shocked when a surprise traveler turns up in Death on the Nile. (Image credit: 20th Century Studios/Walt Disney Company)

Death on the Nile’s two-hour runtime doesn’t provide enough room for its 14-strong cast to truly shine, either.

Sure, the film’s most poignant story beats allow Branagh to flex his emotional acting muscles, bringing a new dimension to his version of Poirot. Sophie Okonedo is electric as jazz singer Salome Otterbourne, too, while Emma Mackey excels as femme fatale Jacqueline de Bellefort, albeit fleetingly. Gadot and Hammer aside, however, the rest of the cast aren’t given enough screen time to showcase their undoubted talents.

The film’s visual effects leave something to be desired, too. Some of the CGI on display feels tacky and slightly amateurish, while it’s noticeable where green screen technology was utilized in favor of shooting on location.

And that’s a pity, because sequences filmed in real-world locations – Morocco was used as a stand-in for Egypt – make Death of the Nile feel more authentic. It lends a pleasingly atmospheric tone to the movie that, alongside the 1930s-style attire and set designs, constructs a believably lived-in world. Of course, a film of this size can’t be shot entirely on location due to the cost. Still, it provides a sense of legitimacy to proceedings and sets the sun-drenched scene for the story as a whole.

Our verdict

Death on the Nile is an uninspiring follow-up to the similarly average Murder on the Orient Express. 

Yes, it’s pleasant to look at. Sure, some of its cast deliver reasonably good performances. And, okay, its fairly emotional story beats do leave a lump in the throat – all solid if unspectacular plus points for a 21st-century movie.

But, with Christie’s novel set to celebrate its 85th anniversary in November 2022, Death on the Nile feels like a relic from a bygone era. And Branagh’s adaptation is nothing more than a re-tread of what audiences have seen before, albeit one with some token changes to reflect the shift towards greater representation on the big screen.

In an era where movies like Knives Out, and TV shows such as Apple TV Plus's The Afterparty, have reinvented the whodunit genre, Death on the Nile feels outdated cinematically. Christie’s highly influential novels will never go out of style, but maybe it’s time for film and TV adaptations of the author’s literary works to do so.

Death on the Nile launches exclusively in theaters on Friday, February 11.

Senior Entertainment Reporter

As TechRadar's senior entertainment reporter, Tom covers all of the latest movies, TV shows, and streaming service news that you need to know about. You'll regularly find him writing about the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Star Wars, Netflix, Prime Video, Disney Plus, and many other topics of interest.

An NCTJ-accredited journalist, Tom also writes reviews, analytical articles, opinion pieces, and interview-led features on the biggest franchises, actors, directors and other industry leaders. You may see his quotes pop up in the odd official Marvel Studios video, too, such as this Moon Knight TV spot.

Away from work, Tom can be found checking out the latest video games, immersing himself in his favorite sporting pastime of football, reading the many unread books on his shelf, staying fit at the gym, and petting every dog he comes across. Got a scoop, interesting story, or an intriguing angle on the latest news in entertainment? Feel free to drop him a line.

Read more
Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson standing in a compound's courtyard in Captain America: Brave New World
Captain America: Brave New World does its best to fly high, but the first Marvel movie of 2025 is the titular hero’s worst solo film so far
Nicholas Hoult sits on the jury in Juror #2
7 underrated movies released in 2024 that you shouldn't miss streaming on Netflix, Hulu, Max and more
Jillian Bell and Amy Schumer in a still from Netflix's new movie Kinda Pregnant
5 new Netflix and Prime Video movies with less than 48% on Rotten Tomatoes I suggest you avoid
Millie Bobby Brown's Michelle armed with a paint gun while standing next to some robots in Netflix's The Electric State movie
The Electric State could have been a great Netflix sci-fi movie, but it's just more evidence that it's Marvel or bust for the Russo brothers
Benedict Cumberbatch staring into the frame in Wes Anderson's The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar
Wes Anderson’s next movie is being released in June – here’s where you can stream 5 of his best films while you wait
A collage image with Iain Glen holding a gun in the left, Wallace and Gromit between a gnome and Brandy Norwood at a dinner table on the right
7 new movies and TV shows to stream on Netflix, Prime Video, Max, and more this weekend (January 3)
Latest in Entertainment
Trinity Rodman #2 of the Washington Spirit crosses the ball during a game between Bay FC and Washington Spirit at Audi Field on November 10, 2024 in Washington, DC.
National Women's Soccer League 2025: How to watch NWSL games live from anywhere
Irish boxer TJ Doheny receives an undercard bout, ahead of the WBO super welterweight world title fight in March, 2023
Ball vs Doheny live stream: how to watch the boxing from anywhere now, full undercard, start time, weigh-in results
Bruno Guimaraes of Newcastle United during the Carabao Cup Semi Final Second Leg match in February 2025
Liverpool vs Newcastle live stream: how to watch Carabao Cup final 2025 online
The Russo brothers posing for a photograph and Herman carrying a Volkswagen camper van in The Electric State
'We're optimists': AI enthusiasts Joe and Anthony Russo defend its use in movies and TV shows, but admit there are 'very real dangers' around its application
Lando Norris driving around a bend during practice for the 2025 Australian Grand Prix
Australian Grand Prix 2025: How to watch this season’s first F1 race online from anywhere
A collage of Tom Holland's unmasked Spider-Man and Sadie Sink's Max in Stranger Things season 4
Marvel reportedly casts Stranger Things star Sadie Sink in Spider-Man 4, but I don't want her to tackle the roles she's rumored to play
Latest in Reviews
WWE 2K25
I've spent days in the ring with WWE 2K25, and it's like a five-star match ruined by the Million Dollar Man
Curaprox Hydrosonic Pro electric toothbrush
Curaprox Hydrosonic Pro review: A powerful seven-mode, Swiss-made sonic brush
Atelier Yumia
I was already sold on Atelier Yumia as an RPG, but I wasn’t expecting it to have my favorite crafting system in all of gaming
Alienware 27 AW2725Q monitor on desk displaying a scene from Cyberpunk 2077
I played games with Alienware's new 27-inch 4K OLED monitor and now I don't want to see another LCD panel
PLAUD NOTE
I tested this AI voice recorder, and now I'll never take meeting notes manually again
SanDisk Extreme PRO with USB4
Testing the new SanDisk Extreme PRO with USB4 SSD proved both challenging and revealing