Interview: Composer Hildur Guðnadóttir Talks A Haunting in Venice

Last Updated on September 29, 2023

One of my favorite aspects of Kenneth Branagh’s latest, A Haunting in Venice, is the terrific score. As impressive as Branagh’s acting and directing skills, the atmospheric score gives the story a beating heart. And you can credit that to the brilliant composer Hildur Guðnadóttir. Responsible for the gorgeous sounds of Women Talking, Tar, and the mini-series Chernobyl, she is a wonderfully talented musician and artist. Not only can you hear this in her inspired score for A Haunting in Venice, but you can also add her excellent work in Joker.

I recently had the joy of speaking to Hildur about her latest. She opened up about working with Kenneth Branagh and the music of the time period in which the film takes place. Next up, I asked her about connecting the score to characters like Joker and Hercule Poirot. She discussed creating the iconic shot from Joker on the steps and giving the iconic detective a little spirit. Not only is Hildur Guðnadóttir a major talent, but she is also incredibly engaging and wonderful to speak with. Check out her work in this week’s A Haunting in Venice, opening in theatres this weekend.

The Agatha Christie adaptation has the following synopsis: Now retired and living in self-imposed exile in the world’s most glamorous city, Poirot reluctantly attends a seance at a decaying, haunted palazzo. He soons gets thrust into a sinister world of shadows and secrets when one of the guests is murdered.

Director Kenneth Branagh is joined in the cast of this “unsettling supernatural thriller” by Kyle Allen (Rosaline), Camille Cottin (Call My Agent), Jamie Dornan (Belfast), Tina Fey (30 Rock), Jude Hill (Belfast), Ali Khan (6 Underground), Emma Laird (Mayor of Kingstown), Kelly Reilly (Yellowstone), Riccardo Scamarcio (Caravaggio’s Shadow), and Michelle Yeoh (Everything Everywhere All at Once).