Rebecca
Starring: Lily James, Armie Hammer, Kristen Scott Thomas
Directed By: Ben Wheatley
Rated: PG-13
You’ve come to right place for this review! You see, this is a review of Rebecca, written by Rebecca. Who else are you going to trust to review this movie other than someone who holds the titular character's name?
80 years after the release of Alfred Hitchcock’s classic suspense film, a new Netflix adaptation arrives of Daphne du Maurier’s novel because everything has to be remade. When a young woman (Lily James) traveling in Monte Carlo meets the widowed Maximilian de Winer (Armie Hammer), she is blinded by his unfortunate choice of mustard suit. Oh, wait, that was me who didn’t love the suit. She seemed to like it.
The two quickly grow close to Monte Carlo and decide to get married. They return to Manderley, his family mansion, where the new Mrs de Winter finds her life is not what she expected. Mrs. Danvers (Kristen Scott Thomas), the cold and menacing housekeeper, is cruel. Maxim is distant. Everyone seems to still be obsessed with Rebecca, Maxim’s recently deceased wife. (Rebecca’s do have that effect on people.) There’s a mystery at Manderley. Will Mrs. de Winter uncover it?
Armie Hammer and Lily James in Rebecca. Image Belongs to Netflix
Living up to an Alfred Hitchcock film is an almost impossible task. The original Rebecca is a masterclass in suspenseful filmmaking that still holds up to this day. There are some major changes in the Netflix adaptation that didn’t totally work for me. First off, there is supposed to be a major age difference between Maxim and Mrs. de Winter. Lily James and Armie Hammer look close to the same age, so that’s been thrown out the window. I don’t want to spoil anything but a choice is made near the end of this movie that ultimately makes Mrs. de Winter look foolish. These changes majorly impact the overall story. For me, the way the story is told works a little better in Hitchcock’s adaptation.
Okay, this Rebecca is getting a little too picky. My complaints about changes in the film are not to say it’s badly made. It’s tough when comparing to a classic. Ben Wheatly directs this with style. He makes sure there is suspense in the story, so the audience is kept wondering what secrets are being kept inside Manderley. Wheatly makes Mrs. de Winter the audience surrogate, so we feel paranoid when she feels it. Is she going crazy in the house? Or is everyone in the house out to get her? The house in itself is a character. The Manderley mansion provides gorgeous scenery. Every scene looks grandiose in scale, showcasing some excellent set and production design.
Lily James and Armie Hammer are engaging as Mrs. De Winter and Maxim. James is the innocent young woman thrown into the chaos of Manderly. She wanders the halls with a curiosity, which leads to paranoia. The innocent girl we see at the beginning of the film turns into a jaded woman who will do anything to keep her life at Manderly afloat. Armie Hammer is mysterious and cold as Maxim de Winter. The charming man we meet at the beginning of the film in Monte Carlo quickly fades when he sets foot in Manderley. Hammer sulks around the mansion, leaving us to wonder what really went on in those halls.
Then there’s Kristen Scott Thomas as Mrs. Danvers, Rebecca’s former maid. You could say she’s obsessed with her, and that’d be putting it lightly. Danvers lurks the halls all day and night, sabotaging Mrs. de Winter’s every move because she hates the idea of Manderley without Rebecca. Thomas plays the role chillingly.
Although it doesn’t live up to Alfred Hitchcock’s classic, Rebecca is impressively filmed and well-acted. Regardless of your familiarity with the original, it’s a mystery that grabs your attention and keeps you engaged.
My Rating: 7/10