Rebecca Movie Review

In Monte Carlo, an unnamed female with dreams of something better, played by the marvelous Lily James, works as a lady’s assistant to the very eccentric and pompous Mrs. Van Hopper (Ann Dowd).

Van Hopper has heard that the widowed Mr. Maxim de Winter, played by the handsome, major-league star, Armie Hammer, will be staying at the hotel, as well. She wants her assistant to ensure they sit together for lunch. While the young woman attempts to make this happen, Maxim sees her instead and makes his interest in Van Hopper’s companion known. The wealthy and self-important women in the expensive hotel make it known that the young woman isn’t admired, nor her presence desired, so when Maxim asks for her company on a drive, she happily accepts. He tells her that he hasn’t been this ‘enchanted’ since Rebecca. Inexplicably, Maxim even drives her to the place where he spent his honeymoon. It isn’t long before he’s telling her of his infamous family estate named the Manderley, teaching her to drive, and they’re kissing on the beach.

After days of her employee continuously disappearing, Mrs. Van Hopper decides she’s had enough of Europe and breaks the bad news that it’s time to leave Europe. The young lady will also have to leave Mr. Maxim de Winter behind as they are on their way to New York.

The girl runs and tells her new love that she has to leave. Not wanting to lose her, Maxim proposes to keep her with him. She immediately goes back and tells her employer she plans to marry and won’t be joining her in America. The exchange between her and Mrs. Van Hopper is a rather captivating scene where she’s, essentially, called a whore who he’ll be tired of once he sees there’s nothing more to offer. Van Hopper also warns her of the lonely man who will see his beloved Rebecca everywhere he turns. In a heated exchange, the soon to be new Mrs. Maxim de Winter exclaims that she is not afraid of ghosts. We’ll see about that.

When they get to Manderley, the movie goes from a slow dramatic build-up to the mystery we’ve been waiting for all this time. The vicious and venomous housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers, portrayed perfectly by the exceptionally accomplished Kristin Scott Thomas, is a dark figure from the moment Mrs. de Winter enters the home. Then there’s the phantom Rebecca in every room, and on the minds of every staff member, she has to contend with now. The new woman of the house finds herself arguing with Danvers over everything. She tries to keep up with Danvers, but the caretaker always has something nasty on the ready. She’s also relegated to a guest room by Danvers, not the real master bedroom, and is told to accept there are areas of the home she is to stay away from altogether. Then she discovers things about her husband she didn’t know. He’s not as warm as he was at first, nor as open. In fact, at times, he’s downright as callous as Danvers is.

I can’t say much more, or specific plot points will be given away that you don’t want to know. However, it’s at this point where everything moves along quite compellingly, especially when the housemaids attempts at trickery work to her advantage.

Here are my final thoughts. I never read the 1938 gothic/romance novel ‘Rebecca,’ and I never saw the 1940 Alfred Hitchcock adaptation of that book that won the Oscar for Best Picture. After hearing how popular they are compared to this film, I’d have to say that I’m now the poorer for deciding to see this remake first. Knowing what I know now, I will try and adjust that error as soon as possible. I love the cast of this film, and they do lend to the reason why I say you might want to give this Netflix version a try, but if you’re a hardcore fan of the established material, this might not be for you.

The new ‘Rebecca’ isn’t as bad as some critics may lead you to believe. It’s a satisfying watch. That said, what I found to be its biggest issue was the pacing. If the story had progressed in a timelier fashion, not to mention that had the director and the writers put a little more wicked into this legendary gothic narrative, it would have improved my rating considerably.

*Streaming on Netflix​ starting 10/21/20

**For more information on ‘Rebecca,’ go to https://www.netflix.com/rebecca.