Rebecca

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Glafira Regina O "Rebecca" (2020) is the fourth screen adaptation of Daphne du Maurier’s novel, following Hitchcock’s 1940 film, the 2008 Italian TV version, and the 1997 mini-series starring Charles Dance and Emilia Fox. I haven’t seen the previous adaptations, so I won’t compare. The film starts off as a romantic story set in Monte Carlo. Azure shores, lush nature, luxurious hotel rooms, the sweet life — the perfect setting for a love story! A young companion to an aristocratic lady — the future Mrs. de Winter (Lily James) — happens to meet Maxim de Winter, a wealthy Englishman. Their relationship grows stronger day by day until he eventually proposes. But once he brings her to his Manderley estate in Cornwall, Maxim changes. It’s subtle, but the new Mrs. de Winter notices it. She also finds it psychologically difficult to live in a house still haunted by the memory of Maxim’s deceased wife. Nightmares and unsettling situations become her constant companions, and she slowly starts losing her composure — much to her husband's increasing irritation. I disagree with those who say Lily James brought nothing to the role. Personally, I think her sweet face and expressive eyes — perfect for portraying horror, quiet confidence, and transformation — worked well. She plays a woman of humble origins: orphaned, working for pennies as a lady’s companion. She’s the epitome of modesty and meekness. In her new home, she acts like a guest, not the mistress. Her word holds no weight against that of the housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers (Kristin Scott Thomas), which only worsens her fragile state. Imagine: the help has more authority than the lady of the house! Everything in Manderley screams "Rebecca" — from household items and furniture to monogrammed handkerchiefs. Her invisible presence weighs on the new wife’s delicate shoulders and threatens to crush her. And then there’s Maxim — the once charming, attentive man from Monte Carlo is now cold and withdrawn, seemingly haunted himself by his late wife. Emotionally, this film works quite well. Director Ben Wheatley skillfully divides the story into a romantic first act and a psychological thriller with a hint of mystery thereafter. The relationship between the de Winters flows in waves — apologies quickly turn to coldness, affection to outbursts, hope to despair, and back again. If you haven’t read the book or seen earlier adaptations, you might even doubt the main character’s motives at first — after all, it could seem like she just wants to snare a rich man. But Maxim’s strange behavior raises its own suspicions. And then there’s Mrs. Danvers — the moment you see her, you just know not to trust her. Over time, your perception of each character might shift entirely. And maybe that’s what makes Wheatley’s "Rebecca" work — it flows in black and white stripes. A dark scene is followed by light, then dark again… and so on, until the very end. But hey, that’s just my take. Watch it and decide for yourself! Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/24/25 Full Review jennifer h Maxim's old Etonian tie is a nice touch Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/08/25 Full Review Steven t Bland to the point of boring. Rated 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/02/25 Full Review Audience Member Sumptuous sets and beautiful scenery please the eyes while the non-existent or grating soundtrack confuse the ears. A welcome focus on our unnamed heroine, but a script bereft of story continuity and character development. Vapid dialogue puts too great a burden on the actors to tell their characters’ story by physical movement alone. A good try, but no magic here. And frankly, no character one really roots for, sadly. Rated 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 12/02/24 Full Review Laura M After having read the book. This movie is a complete disservice. The essence of what makes Rebecca a literary work is fully lost by altering or completely changing scenes and misrepresenting the characters personalities and behaviors. The director must not have read the book because this is a horrible film and lazy representation of the story. I would be embarrassed to put this out in the world. Rated 1/5 Stars •  Rated 1 out of 5 stars 10/17/24 Full Review Sarah R What was an interesting, suspenseful book with hints of psychological thriller in it became a vapid, rushed, and bland movie that sapped two hours of my life. If you like your movies to stick to the plot of your books, avoid this. Rated 1/5 Stars •  Rated 1 out of 5 stars 02/25/24 Full Review Read all reviews

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