Story of a young woman who marries a fascinating widower only to find out that she must live in the shadow of his former wife, Rebecca, who died mysteriously several years earlier. The young wife must come to grips with the terrible secret of her handsome, cold husband, Max De Winter. She must also deal with the jealous, obsessed Mrs. Danvers, the housekeeper, who will not accept her as the mistress of the house.
The result exhibits that the director is capable of a range few would credit him with.
– James Berardinelli,
ReelViews,
1 Jan 1800
fresh:
An altogether brilliant film, haunting, suspenseful, handsome and handsomely played.
– Frank S. Nugent,
New York Times,
20 May 2003
fresh:
Hitchcock shows superb technical control and attends to his trademark motifs, from monstrous mother figures to the fetishisation of clothing.
– Ben Walters,
Time Out,
24 Jun 2006
fresh:
Through its first two-thirds it is as perfect a myth of adolescence as any of the Disney films, documenting the childlike, nameless heroine's initiation into the adult mysteries of sex, death, and identity.
– Dave Kehr,
Chicago Reader,
12 Dec 2006
fresh:
One of the finest productional efforts of the past year.