On The Edge of Your Seat: Netflix’s Rebecca

If you are looking for a movie to keep you at the edge of your seat, look no further. Netflix has recently introduced a new movie, Rebecca, which is a movie adaption from the book by Daphne du Maurier.

The story follows a young newlywed couple that moves into the Manderley estate. The new Mrs. de Winter (Lily James) falls quickly in love with the charming Maxim de Winter (Armie Hammer) but realizes that the ghost of his former, deceased, wife—Rebecca—continues to haunt Manderley.

*Spoiler alert*

Not only is this movie adaption romantic to say the least, but it also introduces a thrilling and unexpected twist to the audience. For one, all major roles were cast perfectly.

I was quite stunned by Lily James’ performance in the role of Mrs. de Winter. In the beginning, James reflected Mrs. de Winter’s youthful joy and hope; however, as she learned more about Rebecca, her spirit hardened and she became very wary of her enemies and of Rebecca’s lasting presence at Manderley. James mastered the transition from a naive girl to a burdened wife, since she reflected her conflicts and sorrows brilliantly at every turn.

Armie Hammer, on the other hand, emphasized the frustration and detached behavior of Maxim towards Mrs. de Winter, where his body movements were abrupt and his tone was cut-throat cold. To play the role of a widower like Maxim de Winter is no easy feat, yet the talented Hammer made the task seem effortless.

As an audience member, the most suspenseful part of the plot was how they portrayed the character of Rebecca. Rebecca is the central focus of the story, despite making an official appearance. I have to praise the director’s use of suspenseful character development. From simply reminiscing about Rebecca, the director sets the stage filled with curiosity. Personally, I found the mysterious Rebecca extremely curious, as she seemed to be the perfect hostess of parties and perfect wife to Maxim de Winter.

The director also carefully integrated Rebecca into every aspect at the Manderley estate, from visual symbolism—how Maxim sleepwalks into Rebecca’s old room, which is kept “exactly the way she left it”—to indirect references, such as her deep friendship with Mrs. Danvers and the devotion that she showed Maxim’s extended family. The exquisite choice of indirectly portraying Rebecca is definitely a highlight of this movie, as it kept me eager to learn more about Rebecca’s former life and how she died.

I would recommend Rebecca to any movie-lover of suspense and romance. Overall, I would give this movie a 4.5 out of a 5, mainly for its constant twist and turns.