Hercule Poirot journeys to Woodleigh Common in Sussex to investigate the murder of a thirteen-year-old girl called Joyce Reynolds (played by Macy Nyman). It occurred at a Halloween party held at the house of Rowena Drake (played by Deborah Findlay). Joyce had boasted that she had once witnessed a murder. No one believed her, but she was later discovered drowned in the apple bobbing tub. Poirot's friend, the mystery writer Ariadne Oliver (played by Zoe Wanamaker), was present and asked him to look into it. Poirot discovers that there have been three recent deaths that could possibly have been the murder that Joyce had boasted about seeing. They include the drowning of a local teacher, Beatrice White, which was believed to have been suicide. Leslie Ferrier, who was the clerk to the local solicitor Mr Fullerton (played by Eric Sykes), was stabbed to death by an unknown assailant in the local woods. On questioning the elderly lawyer, Poirot discovers that Ferrier had been suspected of tampering with clients' confidential papers. Then there is the death of Rowena Drake's wealthy aunt, Mrs Llewellyn-Smythe. Her estate, including the house and gardens that Rowena currently owns, passed to her and her husband (who died as a result of a hit and run, believed to have been perpetrated by some youths). However, Mrs Llewellyn-Smythe had been close to an au-pair girl called Olga Seminoff and a codicil to her will had appeared leaving everything to her whilst disinheriting her family. Yet, this was promptly proven to be a forgery and Olga subsequently vanished without a trace. When Joyce's brother, Leopold Reynolds (played by Richard Breislin), is also murdered, Poirot must find out the truth and bring the killer(s) to justice and prevent another death as well...
All in all, Halloween Party is a reasonably faithful adaptation of one of Agatha Christie's later novels featuring Hercule Poirot. It was first published in 1969. David Suchet remains the definitive Poirot and there are good performances from the rest of the cast. Deborah Findlay is quite good as Rowena Drake as is Julian Rhind-Tutt as the arty gardener Michael Garfield. Fenella Woolgar is outstanding as Elizabeth Whittaker, the local church organist who was very close to the schoolteacher, Beatrice White, when she was alive and her performance conveys a real depth of feeling. The veteran actor-comedian Eric Sykes is a joy to watch in the part of the elderly solicitor, Mr Fullerton, as is Timothy West as the vicar. Paola Dionisetti is also praiseworthy as the local eccentric and gossip Mrs Goodbody. Zoe Wanamaker is good as Poirot's friend and associate, Mrs Oliver, as is David Yelland as his manservant Georges. The dramatisation by Mark Gatiss is quite good and neatly ties together the complicated plot and the denouement where Poirot explains all and reveals the identity of the guilt party is satisfying. The film is also competently directed by Charles Palmer.
All in all, Halloween Party is a reasonably faithful adaptation of one of Agatha Christie's later novels featuring Hercule Poirot. It was first published in 1969. David Suchet remains the definitive Poirot and there are good performances from the rest of the cast. Deborah Findlay is quite good as Rowena Drake as is Julian Rhind-Tutt as the arty gardener Michael Garfield. Fenella Woolgar is outstanding as Elizabeth Whittaker, the local church organist who was very close to the schoolteacher, Beatrice White, when she was alive and her performance conveys a real depth of feeling. The veteran actor-comedian Eric Sykes is a joy to watch in the part of the elderly solicitor, Mr Fullerton, as is Timothy West as the vicar. Paola Dionisetti is also praiseworthy as the local eccentric and gossip Mrs Goodbody. Zoe Wanamaker is good as Poirot's friend and associate, Mrs Oliver, as is David Yelland as his manservant Georges. The dramatisation by Mark Gatiss is quite good and neatly ties together the complicated plot and the denouement where Poirot explains all and reveals the identity of the guilt party is satisfying. The film is also competently directed by Charles Palmer.