A Haunting in Venice (2023) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Rowena orchestrated Joyce's murder to create the illusion of a supernatural curse, specifically the "Children's Vendetta" that she claims has plagued the palazzo. By making Joyce's death appear as a paranormal killing, Rowena could eliminate someone she had reason to hate while simultaneously reinforcing the ghostly narrative surrounding her daughter Alicia's death. Joyce was killed with a blade hidden in the room, and the setup was designed to make it seem like vengeful spirits had struck.

Foreshadowing: Earlier in the evening, children tell stories about the palazzo's haunted history and the Children's Vendetta curse, which Rowena uses as cover for her crimes.

• rowena drake
• joyce reynolds
• murder
• seance
• children's vendetta

Dr. Ferrier was killed because he was secretly Alicia's husband and the father of her child Leopold. Rowena, obsessed with preserving her daughter's memory and potentially resentful of the life Alicia built away from her, viewed Dr. Ferrier's existence as a betrayal. His continued presence, especially with Leopold, represented everything Rowena resented about Alicia's life after leaving her mother.

Foreshadowing: Olga mentions that Alicia experienced eerie visions before her death, hinting at the troubled household dynamics.

• dr ferrier
• leslie ferrier
• rowena
• alicia
• leopold
• murder

Rowena used multiple methods to create the illusion of paranormal activity. During the seance, Nicholas (a young boy working with Rowena) was hidden in a chimney, manipulating props and creating sounds while Joyce pretended to channel Alicia's spirit. The ghostly child Poirot sees is later revealed to be a mechanical trick, and the eerie child song heard throughout the palazzo was orchestrated to reinforce the supernatural narrative.

Foreshadowing: Poirot notices Joyce displaying bizarre behavior during the seance that seems connected to Alicia's torment, which he later realizes was an act.

• seance
• fake haunting
• nicholas
• rowena
• supernatural
• illusion

Maxime Gerard claimed to have had a significant romantic relationship with Alicia, describing a bond forged in secret amid her mother's disapproval. This revelation creates tension during the investigation, as multiple men (including Dr. Ferrier) seem connected to Alicia, making the web of relationships increasingly complex.

Foreshadowing: Maxime's unexpected arrival at the party, claiming to have been summoned by another, hints at his mysterious connection to the family.

• maxime gerard
• alicia
• relationship
• romance
• rowena

The stuffed rabbit was Alicia's beloved childhood toy that Rowena kept after her daughter's death. Poirot discovers this lost rabbit during his investigation, which serves as an emotional anchor connecting him to Alicia's past. The rabbit represents both Alicia's childhood and Rowena's inability to let go of her daughter, which becomes crucial to understanding Rowena's psychological state.

Foreshadowing: Olga reveals that Alicia experienced eerie visions before her demise, showing her connection to the supernatural elements Rowena would later exploit.

• stuffed rabbit
• alicia
• rowena
• childhood
• emotional significance

While the exact details of Alicia's death are kept somewhat ambiguous, it is established that she died recently before the events of the film. The circumstances around her death remain unclear, though Rowena uses the grief over this loss as justification for her murderous scheme. The film implies Alicia may have taken her own life or died under mysterious circumstances that Rowena could not accept.

Foreshadowing: Rowena's profound grief and the whispered messages from beyond that plagued the household suggest Alicia's death was traumatic and unresolved.

• alicia
• death
• rowena
• mysterious death
• suicide

Poirot pieces together the truth through several key observations: he notices the apple message tied to clues about Maxime, sees Alicia's ghost in the mirror which is revealed as a projection, uncovers the hidden basement marked with "dottore" connected to the Children's Vendetta, and realizes the crimes benefit only Rowena. Most critically, he understands that Rowena's grief has twisted into a desire for revenge against those she blames for her daughter's death, and her consistent presence throughout the evening matches the opportunity needed to commit the murders.

Foreshadowing: Poirot's conversation with Joyce, who reveals her fear of being a pretender, mirrors Rowena's own deception and hints at the theme of false appearances.

• poirot
• rowena
• killer
• deduction
• evidence
• investigation

Rowena fled to the rising floodwaters as a desperate attempt to escape Poirot's confrontation and inevitable arrest. The water carries symbolic significance, drawing a parallel to how Alicia may have died, suggesting Rowena chose a watery grave over facing justice. Her tragic fate underscores the film's theme of grief consuming those who cannot let go.

Foreshadowing: Throughout the film, the storm and rising floodwaters create a sense of mounting danger, paralleling Rowena's desperation as her plan unravels.

• rowena
• water
• escape
• death
• flood
• drowning

Poirot's vision of Alicia's ghost was a projection device created by Rowena to enhance the supernatural atmosphere and reinforce the ghostly narrative. This elaborate trick was designed to frighten guests and support the story of the Children's Vendetta curse. Poirot initially believed he was seeing a real spirit, but later realizes it was another layer of Rowena's deception.

Foreshadowing: The eerie atmosphere and stories about the haunted palazzo establish early that supernatural elements may be part of the illusion.

• alicia ghost
• mirror
• projection
• rowena
• illusion
• haunting

The Children's Vendetta is a local legend about a curse connected to the palazzo's past as an orphanage during the Plague. According to legend, wronged children became vengeful spirits that pursue anyone marked within this realm. Rowena exploited this legend to create a cover for her murders, making the deaths appear as supernatural vengeance rather than human crimes.

Foreshadowing: Children at the party share unsettling stories about the building's haunted history, establishing the legend early in the evening.

• children's vendetta
• curse
• orphanage
• plague
• legend
• supernatural