Unmasking the Culprit: Decoding the Ending of 'A Haunting in Venice'

Article Summary

In Agatha Christie's A Haunting in Venice, an unforeseen and thrilling turn of events unveils the true identity of the murderer. Rowena Drake, the mother of the initial victim, emerges as the culprit, having orchestrated her daughter's demise through a devious method of poisoning, showcasing Christie's extraordinary prowess in the realm of murder mysteries.

The encounter between Poirot and Alicia's ghost and the open-ended conclusion raise unresolved questions about the supernatural and Poirot's beliefs. Hercule Poirot, portrayed by Kenneth Branagh, embarked on his third adventure in A Haunting in Venice last month. The movie received moderate critical acclaim but underwhelming box-office numbers. Despite this, fans of Agatha Christie's original books and her impeccable talent for mystery can anticipate an unexpected and thrilling twist. Christie has a knack for anticipating her readers' thoughts and then defying their expectations entirely. Just when you think you have everything figured out halfway through A Haunting in Venice, Christie's legendary status in the genre shines through. While many viewers may have already known the culprits in Branagh's Murder on the Orient Express and Hallowe'en Party, the original text of A Haunting in Venice is not as well-known.

A Haunting in Venice is now available on VOD and can also be streamed on Hulu, just in time for a thrilling Halloween night. Whether you anticipated this twist, had prior knowledge from the book, or were completely taken aback, a concise recap of the finale of A Haunting in Venice is what you need. And that's exactly what you'll find on our reliable entertainment website.

Post-World War II in Venice, Poirot, retired and living in self-imposed exile, reluctantly joins a seance. However, when one of the guests gets murdered, the former detective must take on the task of uncovering the killer once again.

Release Date: September 15, 2023

Director: Kenneth Branagh

Cast: Kelly Reilly, Michelle Yeoh, Jamie Dornan, Kenneth Branagh

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 103 minutes

Main Genre: Drama

What Is ‘A Haunting in Venice’ About?

It’s been a few years since the events of Death on the Nile and Poirot is now residing in Venice, having retired from his career as a detective. However, he is drawn back into the world of mysteries when his close friend, the renowned writer Ariadne Oliver (who seems to have recycled her own ideas), played by Tina Fey, persuades him to attend a séance organized by the famous opera singer Rowena Drake (portrayed by Kelly Reilly) in an attempt to communicate with her late daughter, Alicia (played by Rowan Robinson). The circumstances surrounding Alicia’s demise are suspicious, and Ariadne is eager to be on the frontlines for her next novel, after her three previous ones failed to achieve bestseller status. (Oh, the motive behind it all? That's exactly what I thought. But I'm no match for Christie). They find themselves at Rowena's Halloween party, a gathering of intriguing individuals. Among them is the local doctor, Dr. Ferrier (Jamie Dornan, in his most comical performance since the Fifty Shades franchise), whose PTSD from the war has consumed him to the point where he should reconsider his practice (more on that later). Also present is Ferrier's astute and precocious young son, Leopold (played by Jude Hill), who appears to fulfill the roles of both a wife and nurse to his father. And of course, we cannot overlook Rowena Drake herself and her devoted housekeeper, Olga (played by Camille Cottin).

Who Gets Murdered in 'A Haunting in Venice'?

The arrival of the world-famous medium, Mrs. Reynolds (played by Michelle Yeoh), and her two assistants (Emma Laird and Ali Khan), adds a new level of drama to the scene, despite some skeptics. Soon after, our attention turns to Maxime (portrayed by Kyle Allen), who proposed to Alicia and seemingly abandoned her for a wealthier woman. Rowena, filled with disdain, cannot stand the sight of him, and the true identity of the person behind the invitation to Maxime remains a mystery. Now, let's move on to the murders. The first victim is none other than Mrs. Reynolds herself, who tragically falls from a balcony, landing on a statue and suffering a fatal abdominal impalement. Ouch!

Just before this occurs, Poirot indulges his playful side by participating in a game of apple bobbing. A figure in a cloak forcefully submerges his head in an attempt to drown the renowned detective, but Poirot manages to survive. After being served tea infused with honey from Rowena Drake's own beehives, Poirot takes charge of the situation and instructs his bodyguard to prevent anyone from entering or leaving. As rain pours and wind howls, Poirot's mustache twitches with determination. Yes, you've guessed it, Poirot is now on the case! Throughout the film, numerous mysteries arise. Who invited Alicia's fiancé, Maxime? Who is responsible for Alicia's death? Who tried to kill Poirot, and who successfully murdered Mrs. Reynolds and Dr. Ferrier? All will be revealed.

Although one may be inclined to believe that Ariadne Oliver, in her quest for inspiration for a new book, is the mastermind behind this mystery, she is not the murderer. However, it is eventually unveiled that she was the one who invited Maxime to the dinner party to create some drama for her literary work. The true killer is someone whom you would least suspect: Rowena Drake, the mother of the initial victim. Throughout the film, it is hinted that Rowena and Alicia shared an incredibly close bond, akin to that of a mother and daughter. Perhaps, too close? While Rowena spreads false information that Maxime left Alicia due to her lack of wealth, the truth is that Maxime could not maintain a relationship with someone who was overly dependent on their mother, and especially with a mother who despised him. When Maxime attempted to reconcile with Alicia, Rowena prevented him from seeing her, and tragically, it was too late.

Who's the Killer in 'A Haunting in Venice'?

Image Via 20th Century Studios

The palazzo boasts a garden teeming with flowers that yield a honey infused with the essence of wildflowers. However, the current flora adorning the garden are not of the wild variety. This fact is subtly hinted at earlier in the film when Maxime utilizes the honey as an antiseptic for a cut, commenting nonchalantly on its non-wildflower fragrance. Unbeknownst to him, this honey is actually a toxic substance that induces hallucinogenic effects. Consequently, Poirot experiences illusions, including encounters with the specter of Alicia. This revelation elucidates Alicia's recent mental instability in the final weeks of her life. In a grotesque display of control, Alicia's mother had been systematically poisoning her daughter to maintain a state of illness. Following the engagement of Alicia and Maxime, Rowena angrily destroys the garden. Subsequently, she ventures to Turkey in search of the flower responsible for producing this mind-altering honey.

On the night of Alicia's demise, a weary Rowena, in an impaired state of mind, relinquishes her watch over Alicia to Olga. Unbeknownst to Olga, the honey they persistently offer Alicia in her tea has been meticulously measured by Rowena to prevent an overdose. However, Olga remains oblivious to this fact and adds an excessive amount of honey to Alicia's tea in an attempt to soothe her. Erroneously believing Alicia is serenely slumbering, Olga departs. Upon Rowena's return, she discovers Alicia lifeless and succumbs to panic. Aware of the impending exposure that awaits her, she callously discards Alicia's body over the balcony into the Venice River, crafting the illusion of either a suicide or a murder perpetrated by an external party. Indeed, who could fathom the notion of a parent killing their own child?

In the present day, Rowena Drake commits the murder of Mrs. Reynolds as she suspects that Reynolds has discovered the truth about Alicia's disappearance and would reveal the identity of her true killer. In an attempt to also murder Poirot, Rowena hastily flees to the indoor balcony and pushes Mrs. Reynolds to her death. The poisoning of Poirot with honey is actually an innocent mistake. Our suspicions fall on Ariadne, as she is the one who offers Poirot the tea and mentions finding honey in the linen press. However, Rowena had actually placed the honey there to conceal it. Unknowingly, Ariadne gives Poirot the toxic honey, causing him to be drugged and experience hallucinations of the undead.

The question arises - why does Dr. Ferrier also suffer the same fate? After his PTSD leads him into a physical altercation with Maxime, and subsequently being strangely calmed down by his immature son, he is confined to the soundproofed music room for sleep. Rowena makes a dramatic display of handing the only key to Poirot. It is later revealed that Rowena was being blackmailed by someone who knows the truth about Alicia's death. She mistakenly believes it to be Ferrier, as he was the doctor present at the scene of Alicia's death. Rowena contacts Ferrier, who is inside the music room, and threatens to murder his son if he does not take his own life. Since Ferrier's son is his sole reason for living, he makes the decision to impale himself on a decorative sword within the room. This murder is executed without any physical contact, showcasing Rowena's mastery in her craft. However, it turns out that it was not Dr. Ferrier who was blackmailing Rowena, but rather his son Leopold. Leopold had discovered the truth from his father's notes, which his father had failed to notice due to his inability to practice medicine. Leopold had blackmailed Rowena for money to ensure their survival, since his father was unable to work due to his chronic PTSD.

Did Poirot Really See Alicia's Ghost?

Image Via 20th Century Studios

Poirot unveils the truth to everyone in his customary grand soliloquy style, leaving them all in a state of shock. Rowena Drake, now transformed into a distraught mother turned killer, refuses to surrender without a fight. She attempts to escape, but Poirot follows closely behind, chasing her into Alicia's bedroom. As Poirot and Rowena engage in a tense confrontation on the balcony where Alicia met her demise, an unexpected event takes place. Alicia's ghost makes a sudden appearance, shocking everyone involved. Simultaneously, Rowena falls into the river, mirroring the manner in which she staged Alicia's death. It is suggested that Alicia's spirit has returned to seek revenge on her mother, yet the situation remains ambiguous. Was it truly a ghost, or was Poirot still influenced by the poisonous honey? Did Rowena jump out of shame or was she pushed by Poirot? The truth remains unknown, even to Branagh himself.

The movie concludes with Poirot regaining his old self. Throughout the film, Poirot's skepticism towards God and the afterlife is extensively discussed with Ariadne. Does the sight of Alicia's ghost restore Poirot's faith in both God and humanity? At the film's beginning, he ignored the pleas for help from the public. However, now he is open to the world once more, embracing its potential. Perhaps he may venture to a new city to share his wisdom, derived from his mustache-induced PTSD. Could we imagine Poirot in Paris? Or even Poirot embarking on a journey to space? When it comes to Kenneth Branagh, anything is possible.

A Haunting in Venice is available to stream on Hulu.

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Editor's P/S

In "A Haunting in Venice," the resolution of the murder mystery unveils a shocking twist as Rowena Drake, the mother of the initial victim, emerges as the culprit. Agatha Christie, renowned for her mastery of the genre, skillfully orchestrates a devious plot involving poisoning, leaving readers and viewers astounded by the revelation. This unexpected turn of events showcases Christie's exceptional talent in crafting intricate murder mysteries that continuously defy expectations.

The film also delves into the supernatural realm through the encounter between Poirot and Alicia's ghost. This encounter raises intriguing questions about the existence of ghosts and the nature of the afterlife. However, the open-ended conclusion leaves these questions unresolved, inviting viewers to ponder the possibilities and contemplate their own beliefs.