Cordelia (2019) User Reviews

All form and not content

[sergius248 · 5/10 · 21 July 2021]

I had hope that this film should have been one of those minor jewels that are made cheaply and intelligently.

However, as many other reviewers pointed out, everybody can make up a script without intrinsic logic and that leaves more questions than those that can answer.

In spite of the best effort of the cast, and some minor skill in the direction, the lack of a coherent storyline at the end rend it all useless.

It is broadly inspired by Polansky's Repulsion, but the switching between what could have been and wasn't will not work if there is not a baseline.

The 5 rating is generous and because of the acting efforts.

Ambiguous & a touch weird

[Vancouver77 · 5/10 · 10 July 2022]

I really had no idea what was going on in 80 percent of this movie, but held on for resolution at the end. But many things weren't tied up or explained at the end. I found the movie claustrophobic, confusing, hard to follow and hard to understand. Others may love it. Some people tolerate more ambiguity than others. If you love figuring out symbolic meanings and interpreting nebulous themes, then you may be more inclined to enjoy this movie. The movie offers good production quality, excellent acting but otherwise, I just don't know what it all meant.

Didn't hate it

[laurenalicee · 4/10 · 17 February 2021]

Yeah I didn't hate it but it wasn't amazing. Some of the acting felt clunky and the story felt really messy, there were too many elements that didn't totally make sense and not nearly enough pay off. It just felt a little unsatisfactory

Eerie

[Gordon-11 · 28 December 2020]

It successfully creates an eerie and suspenseful atmosphere, but the plot leaves too many unanswered questions.

Don't waste your time

[jp-aventurier · 1/10 · 10 December 2020]

Earnest and sincere acting by Antonia Campbell-Hughes and Johnny Flynn (along with name-dropping cameos from Michael Gambon, Alun Armstrong, and Joel Fry) cannot buoy this vacuous mish-mash of tension tropes posing as psychological suspense. It literally goes nowhere, but manages to waffle its way through meaningless misdirects long enough to meet a feature run time, failing in the process to have any sense of a point before failing even to end.

Inexplicable

[hank_linda · 4/10 · 29 July 2023]

This story makes no sense. In fact it really is not a story but rather a disconnected series of plot elements thrown together to ultimately leave it to the viewer to come up with some kind of explanation for it all. The viewer then must fail as there isn't one narrative I can think of to make sense of what is seen. I agree with others. It's too bad because it has it's good points. Good atmospherics and a capable cast. For the first 2/3 of the movie I was wondering what would happen and as it was pretty mysterious. The lead actress is capable and overall the movie is adequately creepy. But in the end, don't waste time on this. It will leave you feeling cheated.

What happened!?

[gxtzxq · 3/10 · 7 January 2021]

Spoiler alert 🚨

What was that ending? It caught my attention and right when it was getting good, the end. No no no!

Better Than The Woman In The Window

[Xavier-Soze · 7/10 · 24 May 2021]

Both are moody psychological thrillers but I have no idea how this has a lower rating. Shot well, good acting and the 1 star review is right, it does lose its way but there's absolutely no way this is a 1 star film.

You're breaking my heart

[Stanlee107 · 4/10 · 5 December 2020]

This psychological thriller throws in some social commentary of the effects of the 2007 bombing in London. The lead protagonist bares the scars of this and tries to build her life back from this tragedy. The premise has promise but it fails to live up to what it could have been. Instead the female lead is being stalked by an anonymous person & she finds solace with a neighbour that may or may not be what he seems....

Atmospheric but...

[faidai · 6/10 · 24 October 2021]

This started out as a moody, tense piece & maintained it's slow- building hold for the majority of the film.

The acting can't be faulted, especially the lead, but there is a curious use of cameos; I'm thinking in particular of Michael Gambon. To say his appearance is fleeting would be an understatement! Completely unfathomable to me that an actor of his calibre should be relegated to a role befitting an extra.

That's just one of the incongruities in this film. Plotlines start to wander then peter out without adding anything to the body of the story, in particular the trip back to the family home, but I could have forgiven them except...

Then there's the end. A wasted opportunity to gain a further insight to both protagonists & ultimately a damp squib that I felt let down everything preceding it.

On one point - a previous reviewer praised the "oboe" music which provides much of the soundtrack. It's actually cello, quite a different sound &, as the neighbour is a cellist, has quite a bearing on the plot.

Anyway, watch this for the performances & the atmosphere but be prepared for a residual feeling of dissatisfaction!

A failure of a portrayal of a psychological brain unexplained

[rmorama · 2/10 · 28 May 2022]

I will start by saying I was not happy that I paid 7$ to watch this highly rated piece of empty garbage! This was completely all over the place, pointless, awful and had no rationale included anywhere. This is so bad!!!

Interesting plot

[Luna2022 · 9/10 · 15 April 2021]

I think it is a good watch for those who are into this type of movie (trauma/psychological/mild thriller). I think there is more to this character. I find myself trying to workout whether or not her sister really exist. Are the people around her really there or she just imagined them. Good movie, but not for everyone though.

a weird little ephistel...

[ops-52535 · 6/10 · 29 November 2020]

About a little skinny girl that has got a big body of ptsd to struggle with , whenever, whatever and however she twists and turns she panics and the neolittic adrenaline kick makes her flee time and again, until the moment of not being able to turn around.... its the psychological drama that counterfeits you to believe, and youll get the quite opposite and the unexpected in the end.

its worth mentioning the doublerole that the mainactress does, and the deeds are here very well stiched in the plotsymetry, and the grumpy old man must admit that this fact was observed later after viewing the film and checking the list of cast.

its not a film for the broad audience, its too mental for a frenzy bundle of nerves to take in. so its a small recommend from the GOM.

Absolute Junk

[colingingell · 1/10 · 22 August 2021]

90 minutes of my life stolen from me.

No story, just making it up as it goes along.

Another one of those one note films

[smoke0 · 4 June 2022]

I just hate when filmmakers fixate on a premise and try to build an entire movie around it. This works best in half hour anthology series, like Alfred Hitchcock or Twilight Zone, because you know that there's going to be a simple and maybe surprising resolution, but to drag the story out for an hour and more with characters and subplots that are ultimately just filler is defeating the purpose of the original premise.

You can sit through this film and admire the acting and the sets and whatever else you choose, but you already know how this will end and when it does, you shouldn't be surprised at anything but the time you wasted getting there.

Brilliant Piece of British Filmmaking

[elleralph-43611 · 1/10 · 26 May 2021]

Cordelia is one of those films that you watch and instantly want to watch again to go back and spot all of the little clues that you missed the first time around.

Antonia Campbell-Hughes and Johnny Flynns performances were great; completely gripping throughout. I'm looking forward to seeing what other films these actors make.

Mediocre at best

[denise_actress · 5/10 · 26 December 2020]

The reveal of what the trauma was fell flat. That's due to poor writing and direction not because the incident. Then reveal of who the neighbor guy was and her reaction to finding out made me ask why was she ok with him before finding out he really really liked her.

1/10 Don't waste your time

[whiteagle40 · 1/10 · 23 October 2021]

Bad plot without clear story line !!! Too many unanswered questions and its not considered horror at all, though the atmosphere of the movies is good .

Twistedly good!

[bigjig · 7/10 · 24 October 2021]

She was convinced he was the caller but after she stabs him, she get the call and....

I dont fully follow the plot I guess because Frank has her pictures in his bedroom too.

Cordelia - Style With Little Substance

[krocheav · 3/10 · 4 September 2023]

It felt like I had seen this all before (think; Polanski's The Tennant & Repulsion) all the way through to the non-ending. Every so often writers and movie makers want to create a beguiling work that leaves audiences perplexed, they think they're being clever (maybe they are) but when audiences sit for over an hour and a half, when they leave, they understandably want something to take with them that feels complete.

While some think its creative to simply give out assorted clues, so others can think they're smart enough to unravel them - most will feel let down when everything they thought they saw, maybe didn't happen at all. It's stylish, well played out, but ultimately unpleasant and unsatisfying, with a script that's possibly as thin as the co-writer/main star.

If you like movies with endless loose ends, and nothing to tie them together, this is the show for you.

Good Start...

[bryangary65 · 6/10 · 30 November 2021]

..but that could not be maintained and the ending to me was unsatisfactory

Did though like the atmospheric performance by Antonia Campbell Hughes, who always had you interested in her.

Outstanding!

[gdalesmith · 8/10 · 2 December 2020]

A fine example of the 'psychological thriller' genre. It's not a horror story, although things do get gothic and creepy as it progresses. That ambience is skillfully accented by haunting oboe music in the background. Antonia Campbell-Hughes, will be in demand for a long time, judging by how well she fleshed out her 'Cordelia' character - no small challenge considering how thin she is.

Much of the criticism about this movie pertains to its ambiguous ending. It certainly doesn't end nicely wrapped up, Hollywood-style, but the people who made it apparently wanted the audience to come up with their own endings. A nice twist in itself.

In any case Cordelia is worth watching even as the end credits roll, just to hear the excellent oboe and chorus music.

Modest but enjoyable & darkly twisty slow-burn Brit thriller

[danieljfarthing · 7/10 · 16 January 2023]

In 2019 Brit-thriller "Cordelia" theatre actress Antonia Campbell Hughes (good - tho less so when also playing her identical twin) lives in a London flat with said twin, neighboured by Alun Armstrong, cellist Johnny Flynn (great as ever), et al. When her twin leaves for a weekend (with bf Joel Fry) Campbell Hughes gets to know the flirtatious Flynn, but also attracts a sinister stalker (could it BE Flynn?) AND struggles mentally with a recent trauma she's still recovering from. The quietly accomplished Anthony Shergold directs with slow-burn class, though he really stands out as co-writer with Campbell Hughes of the darkly twisty script. It's a modest but highly enjoyable film.

I enjoyed it

[natashaemery · 7/10 · 7 February 2024]

I think the ratings are a bit unfair on this, it has a beautiful atmosphere and whilst it leaves you thinking, I think that is the beauty of it.

The acting is brilliant, and just 2 actors carried the whole movie.

It leaves you wondering what is real and what isn't. And the cello is beautiful throughout it creates a somber atmosphere which fits the tone of the movie.

I wouldn't call it a horror movie it is more a psychological thriller. If you like slow burns with twists throughout then this movie is for you....yes it doesn't explain everything but it leaves you thinking long after watching it.