It’s common practice within Hollywood, when it comes to an excellent, timeless story, to redo it every few years to bring it to a newer generation. This year has already seen a few examples of this, from The Secret Garden to Emma, and now, Netflix has produced the latest with Ben Wheatley’s Rebecca. The iconic novel by Daphne du Maurier was already adapted into an Oscar-winning film by Alfred Hitchcock in 1940 and has even reached different mediums like theater and television. As a result, it’s hard to see this newest Rebecca as anything other an a pale imitation of what came before, provided viewers are familiar with the previous versions, particularly Hitchcock’s. Gorgeously made and well-acted, Rebecca will surely appeal to younger generations entranced by the story, even if it can’t surpass what came before.
While vacationing in Monte Carlo, an innocent lady’s companion (Lily James) meets the alluring and handsome Maxim de Winter (Armie Hammer), and over the course of several days, the two experience a whirlwind romance. It isn’t long before the two are married and the new Mrs. de Winter moves into the beautiful Manderly estate. However, Mrs. de Winter’s happy ending proves to be darker than she thought, as she’s constantly reminded of her husband’s dearly departed wife Rebecca. As the coolly hostile housekeeper Mrs. Danvers (Kristin Scott Thomas) undermines her at every turn, Mrs. de Winter struggles to hold onto her sanity while combatting Rebecca’s memory.
![Rebecca Review: A Beautiful Adaptation That Struggles To Justify Itself](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Kristin-Scott-Thomas-and-Lily-James-in-Rebecca.jpg)
As the unnamed Mrs. de Winter, James effectively sells both her character’s naiveté and growing desperation. There’s little question that she loves her new husband, but her inexperience as the lady of a prominent household, coupled with the frequent comparisons to the late Rebecca, make for a spiral that James plays well. Likewise, Scott Thomas is a perfectly chilly Mrs. Danvers. The moments where she squares off against Mrs. de Winter are among the best within Rebecca, especially when Mrs. Danvers speaks of her relationship with the title character.
Hammer, meanwhile, is predictably a very suave Maxim, but Rebecca is firmly a female-centered story. With much of the plot focusing on the Rebecca-Mrs. Danvers-Mrs. de Winter trio, Hammer isn’t given much to do until the film’s final act. Still, he and James are a nice pairing, and it’s clear Wheatley took advantage of the fact that, as a movie made today, the leads can get a bit more physical (but only in a PG-13 sense, of course). However, the good performances within Rebecca can’t quite change its biggest issue: There’s nothing new to see here. Yes, Wheatley and director of photographer Laurie Rose have crafted a Rebecca that’s beautiful to look at, but it’s missing extra substance.
![Kristin Scott Thomas, Lily James, and Armie Hammer in Rebecca](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Kristin-Scott-Thomas-Lily-James-and-Armie-Hammer-in-Rebecca.jpg)
Those who have read du Maurier’s original novel or have seen Hitchcock’s classic will know exactly how Rebecca plays out, particularly since screenwriters Jane Goldman, Joe Shrapnel, and Anna Waterhouse haven’t changed much. The few minor additions, such as glimpses of Mrs. de Winter’s nightmares, attempt to push Rebecca into a full-on horror film and stumble a bit in their execution. One moment in particular at the costume ball Mrs. de Winter organizes feels positively cheesy. Beyond those small details, however, Rebecca plays out just as it had before, with an ending that hews closer to the original novel. As a result, audiences are left with one major question: Why was this made at all?
There’s an easy answer. In creating a fresh and beautiful Rebecca armed with attractive stars, Wheatley has ensured the iconic story can reach a brand new audience. It’s an honorable motive, and one that shouldn’t necessarily be scoffed at. Younger generations unfamiliar with Rebecca will surely thrill at the shiny new film. Those who have seen the past versions, however, might feel a bit cheated. More could have been done to give Rebecca even more of a modern slant beyond just having its romantic leads kiss more freely. This was an admirable attempt, but it sadly cannot compare to what came before.
Rebecca is now streaming on Netflix. It is 121 minutes long and rated PG-13 for some sexual content, partial nudity, thematic elements, and smoking.
Let us know what you thought of the film in the comments section!
Key Release Dates
Rebecca
Release Date:2020-10-21