Rebecca Film Review: This Gothic Mystery is a Visual Feast but Leaves You Wanting for More
The environment, the music, the home, the expressions; they tell as much of the story as the narration and the dialogue
When I heard that Rebecca, the 1938 novel penned by Daphne du Maurier, was getting a modern adaptation, I wasn’t quite sure if it was such a good idea. After all, this isn’t the first time that the story would be seen on the silver screen, and the first time it was turned into a film, but also, the director’s seat was originally filled by none other than Alfred Hitchcock himself.
I don’t know about you, but anyone who is thinking about creating a modern take and sharing the limelight with Alfred Hitchcock is probably in danger of having their work totally overshadowed.
Despite what looked to be an uphill battle from start to finish, Ben Wheatley decided to push forward anyway, wanting to adapt the novel rather than remake the film. The result is a mix between old and new about a story that starts as a romance before opening the floodgates into Gothic horror — with a dash of crime and mystery added into the mix.
How do I feel about the film? I think we might be getting a little ahead of ourselves, as there is undoubtedly more of this story to tell — though I’ll be sure not to be too heavy-handed with any spoilers.
A difference in perspective
The Hitchcock film is filled to the brim with new and inventive techniques during the time. It’s exactly the reason why I had my reservations about anyone else trying to adapt their own version. Even though the novel has been given the live-action treatment quite a few times, Hitchcock’s version will always be a classic, and it would be very likely that anyone looking to imitate his work is doomed to fail, even if it might actually be good.
Fortunately, Ben Wheatley manages to deftly avoid too many comparisons by adding in his own style and perspective into the film —which is actually his first Hollywood film.
“The most present way was within music and the creating of Rebecca’s themes … so it’s like her theme is assembling itself across the movie,” the director said in an interview about the movie.
“It’s also in sound effects and sound design, so a lot of the environmental stuff in Manderley, every door handle, every drawer that’s pulled out, they don’t have the sounds of the things that they are, so the house itself seems to be subconsciously trying to tell the audience the secret is of what’s happened with Rebecca.”
An unfair comparison?
When you consider that Wheatley has to pit his film against Hitchcock’s Hollywood first, you can’t avoid comparisons to the stellar 1940 adaptation. While it might have been possible if there was a different director at the time, Rebecca was a milestone for Hitchcock, which further casts a shadow on the 2020 adaptation. When you consider the differences in vision and what Wheatley wanted to spin for his own take, it can be a somewhat unfair comparison. In my honest opinion, anyone who has watched the 1940 film or read the 1938 novel might find something new with the modern Rebecca.
A surreal splash of color, and my take
When it comes to my personal opinion about the film, it spoke to me in a way that I wasn’t quite expecting. Yes, I expected it to be all about Gothic horror, and what I got was exactly that — an abundance of that. It was also much more colorful and surreal than I was expecting, which further enhanced the story beats. It’s also crucial to note that the director makes no changes when it comes to the events occurring in the novel. There are no new twists and turns or a darker take, which is something that I also expected would occur.
The result is a film that I thoroughly enjoyed, even if I have some friends who might disagree. When I said it was a visual feast, I was serious. The environment, the music, the home, the expressions; they tell as much of the story as the narration and the dialogue. It caught me just when I was most vulnerable to the surreal environment and the splash of colors, creating an experience that I’m happy to say left me wanting for more. I wholeheartedly recommend this film, as it remains faithful to the novel while simultaneously offering something different compared to the brilliant take of one Alfred Hitchcock.
You can check out the trailer here. Rebecca is currently streaming on Netflix.
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