“Death on the Nile” Analysis

 

    "Death on the Nile" hit theaters in February of this year and is the sequel to " Murder on the Orient Express". Both films are murder mysteries that leave the audience on the edge of their seats. While similar, the execution of "Death on the Nile" caught my attention and left me shocked.

    In the movie, a couple gets married and decides to have a honeymoon in Egypt. While there the man's crazy ex stalks them forcing the trip to take place on a cruise through the Nile River. As the film unfolds the bride dies and a detective tries to figure out what was the motive and who killed her.

    The man's wife is portrayed as extremely rich and favored by all. It is later revealed that she has a nasty temperament and is despised by everyone but was loved because of her money. She is showcased as easy to manipulate and gullible.

    The man's ex is the complete opposite. she is bold and outgoing, full of determination, and hungry for love. She turns out to be the one to seek vengeance and that is reflected in her anger and snarky comments towards the man's new wife.

    The director of the film Kenneth Branagh not only executes a jaw-dropping story but he excelled in showcasing story beats. A story beat is a moment that pushes the story forward and it also helps mark a shift in tone.

    In act one, the first beat introduced is the man at a club with his ex-girlfriend and his future wife walking into the room. The scene also shows the immediate connection formed between the two lovers. This beat is important because it introduces the love story and the reason behind the ex's animosity towards the wife.

    The second beat happens when the couple notices the ex stalking them at their wedding. This sets the story in a way that makes the viewer instantly think she has something to do with the deaths forthcoming. 

    

      This also sets in place a potential motive which then makes it even more difficult to find out the truth. To conclude act one there is already a suspect, motive, and hatred developed.

       In act two, the third best is also the catalyst that triggers all future events. The ex somehow sneaks onto the bait and instead of returning her to shore the man allows her to stay because they have a detective aboard. 

       Everything that happens from them on is because he allowed her stay and as the scenes unfold it because hard to differentiate who is plotting and whether or not she is the issue since she ends up shooting the man.

        In act three, the final product is showcased. The murder is reveled and so are the killers. This removes all bets off the the table. The plan is also reveled but then something interesting happens there is more than what meets the eye.