Full of captivating visuals and an anticlimactic plot, the new Netflix movie, Rebecca, attempts to answer the age-old question of what it would look like if you were being haunted by your husband’s dead wife. The book that it’s based on, also called Rebecca, by Daphne de Maurier, has been a commercial success. Despite its being published in 1938, the book is still widely purchased and adored by people worldwide. The movie adaptation attempts to imitate the book’s gothic style but falls short most of the time. 

The movie takes place in 1938 in the United Kingdom and is full of British fashion and architecture. It follows an unnamed woman (Lily James), referred to as Mademoiselle, who works as a type of assistant-companion to a brash woman who treats her poorly. While accompanying her to a hotel, the unnamed character meets Maxim de Winter (Armie Hammer), a rich man whose wife had recently drowned. They get to know each other and eventually fall in love, with Maxim proposing to her and taking her back to his mansion, called Manderley. When she gets there, the unnamed character, now referred to as the second Ms. de Winter, finds herself constantly compared to her husband’s dead wife, the titular Rebecca, and at odds with the keeper of the house, Mrs. Danvers (Kristin Scott Thomas), who was especially attached to Rebecca and is still not over her death. As the second Ms. de Winter lives there, she starts to feel haunted by Rebecca’s presence and uncovers secrets about her death.

Visually, the movie is stunning. It’s full of shots of lush scenery, enormous, castle-like mansions, and excellent use of lighting between dark and light. The visuals do an excellent job of showing contrast and foreboding; costumes and landscapes are initially bright and colorful but change to dark and monotone once they arrive at Manderley. The costumes are beautifully put together, although they seem too modern for the 1940s, which makes it difficult to get a feel for what time period the movie takes place in. 

The plot is hard to follow, and many scenes seem out of place. Additionally, the one song they play throughout the movie doesn’t fit the overall tone. The most frustrating part of the film, however, is undoubtedly Armie Hammer’s character, Maxim de Winter, who seems like a perfect husband at first, but either walks away or goes to sleep anytime anything even slightly inconvenient happens to him. He only changes towards the end, at the climax, which occurs so far into the movie that the last 20 minutes feel rushed and anticlimactic. 

The movie was enjoyable overall- if you aren’t looking for its faults- but if you’re looking for an edge-of-your-seat experience, the movie probably isn’t for you. But if you don’t mind spending two hours getting distracted by gorgeous clothing and scenery while having a perpetual look of confusion on your face, Rebecca is for you.