The protagonist (Lily James) is a companion-assistant to rich abusive Mrs. Van Hopper (Ann Dowd) traveling in Monte Carlo. They encounter wealthy man-about-town Maxim de Winter (Armie Hammer). He falls for the poor orphan young girl and they get married. He is still haunted by his first wife Rebecca who died in a boating accident. They return to his large estate Manderley with a vast cast of servants led by the harsh Mrs. Danvers (Kristin Scott Thomas).
It's interesting that the lead character remains nameless. I've never read the Daphne du Maurier novel. I always assumed that her novels are pulpy romances. It probably meant that the book was written in a first person point of view putting the reading in the young assistant's shoes. It's a great way to get the female readers to embody the protagonist and walk her journey. I wonder if the movie should try doing something as experimental as strictly using the first person point of view. It does need something. As it stands, it's a rather old style melodramatic narrative. There are some attempt at gothic horror. The film looks beautiful. The actors are fine. In the end, nothing is superior or new or punch you in the face. It's fine.
It's interesting that the lead character remains nameless. I've never read the Daphne du Maurier novel. I always assumed that her novels are pulpy romances. It probably meant that the book was written in a first person point of view putting the reading in the young assistant's shoes. It's a great way to get the female readers to embody the protagonist and walk her journey. I wonder if the movie should try doing something as experimental as strictly using the first person point of view. It does need something. As it stands, it's a rather old style melodramatic narrative. There are some attempt at gothic horror. The film looks beautiful. The actors are fine. In the end, nothing is superior or new or punch you in the face. It's fine.