REBECCA
Rating: 8/10
“Rebecca” was unsettling. For the most part I was uneasy, and most of the time I was unsure why I should feel uneasy. In the back of my mind, I kept hearing the whisper, This is a Hitchcock film; be on the lookout for a twist. And at one point, I exclaimed, “Oh! What the hell?!”
As far as the story goes, it was well structured with twist after twist. A young girl marries a widower, and then she moves into his estate where there are several remnants of his former wife Rebecca. It seems understandable for the most part, but there’s an element of her ghost lingering in the house. And that’s the real trick. She’s dead, but she’s very much alive.
Joan Fontaine did well in selling the suspense of “Rebecca,” but her acting was sometimes distracting. Yes, she sold the emotion, but I was always conscious of her playing an emotion. The others acted well, but it made little difference to the overall story, in my opinion.
I was impressed with how well Alfred Hitchcock created a surreal and ominous atmosphere, and I really enjoyed the voiceovers. I can’t remember the previous films utilizing voiceovers, so I’m glad this film used them. It was refreshing.
If you enjoy CW’s “Riverdale,” give this film a shot. It’s reminiscent of that atmosphere and mood. Also, if you’ve seen other Hitchcock films, give this one a go.
Just A Journey 