A Haunting in Venice officially inaugurates the spooky season, and some people wonder if the upcoming movie following Hercule Poirot’s latest case is an Agatha Christie book. Has Agatha Christie ever written a novel titled A Haunting in Venice? Is the film based on any of her stories? There might be some confusion, so here’s what you need to know.
Did Agatha Christie write A Haunting in Venice?
Agatha Christie didn’t write A Haunting in Venice, but the 2023 movie is based on one of her novels.
No, there is no novel titled A Haunting in Venice written by Agatha Christie. Still, the renowned British author is deeply connected to A Haunting in Venice since the screenplay penned by Michael Green is based on a novel by Christie, 1969’s Hallowe’en Party.
A Haunting in Venice borrows some of the characters created by Christie as well. In addition to Poirot (portrayed in live-action by Kenneth Branagh since 2017’s Murder on the Orient Express), the film features Ariadne Oliver (Tina Fey), a recurring character in Christie’s works who is a mystery novelist and friend of Poirot.
The novel is primarily set in the fictional village of Woodleigh Common in England. During a Halloween party, a young girl named Joyce Reynolds boasts that she once witnessed a murder. However, no one takes her seriously. Later that evening, Joyce is found murdered in the apple-bobbing tub.
Hallowe’en Party received generally positive reviews upon its release, with critics praising Christie’s skill in crafting a complex mystery. While it may not be as famous as some of her earlier works widely known as classics like Murder on the Orient Express, Death on the Nile, or The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, it is still considered a solid addition to Christie’s extensive body of work. Christie died at 85 on 12 January 1976, after enjoying her success as a well-known and widely appreciated novelist.
A Haunting in Venice premieres in U.S. theaters on September 15, 2023.
For more A Haunting in Venice-related content, check out the posters teasing a deadly mystery. Also, watch this clip featuring Michelle Yeoh calling upon a spirit.
