Review: Rebecca (dir. Ben Wheatley)

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“…where there is beauty, there is horror.”

Crossing genres or rather, mixing them, Rebecca reached our screens this week and dare I say, it’s considerably refreshing. For about two hours, we are transported back into the aristocratic world of 1930s, where life feels dazzling, alluring us with its lavish splendour. But where there is beauty, there is horror. Ben Wheatley’s Rebecca stars Lily James, Armie Hammer, Kristin Scott Thomas and a red dress-clad memory in the latest adaptation based upon the Daphne du Maurier’s classic novel of the same name.

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“From what appears to be a glorious new beginning for Mrs de Winter ends up becoming a nightmare…”

As the plot follows, a young, doe-eyed lady’s maid reaches the French Rivera to gain her fair share of adventure. There, she ends up having a fortunate encounter with an aristocratic widow called Mr Maxim de Winter. The couple hits it off and gets married soon after. Following their honeymoon, they reach the infamous Manderley. However, to the new Mrs de Winter, the mansion, the housekeep and Mr de Winter, all seem to be preoccupied with the former wife called Rebecca. From what appears to be a glorious new beginning for Mrs de Winter ends up becoming a nightmare, where she finds herself being haunted and hunted by both the dead, and the living.

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“Wheatley’s adaptation presents the horror within the beautiful.”

The film design, in terms of its artistic presentation and polished portrayal, is an aesthetic treat for the eyes. Wheatley’s adaptation presents the horror within the beautiful. Yet, much of this horror is about the uncomfortable notion of feeling like an outsider. Throughout the film, every event, character, prop keeps correcting itself, as if the presence of Mrs de Winter is infringing. Through Mrs de Winter, Wheatley puts the audience into a voyeuristic and transgressive position as well.

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“The story constantly moves from one genre to another…”

The acting so well done, that it almost seems as if every character is living in its own unique world, that too quite cooperatively. The moment of conflict arising only when these worlds question the existence of another. The story constantly moves from one genre to another, predominantly that of romance, psychological horror and mystery. Being an adaptation, to translate such a complex story from the books to the screen without putting it either too plainly or too overwhelming to rupture its mysterious centre is a daunting task. Yet, Wheatly’s sense of direction along with the stunning screenplay of Jane Goldman, Joe Shrapnel and Anna Waterhouse manages to achieve it effortlessly.

Despite the mixed reviews, the film is an interesting watch, especially if need a reminder of the story or aren’t familiar with it. The actors have put their best foot forwards and made it appear as if, all of them, especially James (Mrs de Winter), Hammer (Mr de Winter) and Thomas (Mrs Danvers) are embodying multiple lives. Throughout the course of the film, their gracious transformation, as they move in and out of the multiple secrets they live with, is nothing short of marvellous. Additionally, the movie has a brilliant soundtrack which features a range of moving musical pieces from Debussy to Pentangle. The film is rather fitting for a lockdown Halloween watch, and possibly the most exciting thing to have happened all day.