Review of My Cousin Rachel (2017) by Dawdlingpoet — 26 Nov 2021

This is quite an atmospheric film - it has a slow, winding plot but the characters are certainly intriguing and I liked the posh settings, with period costumes and some slightly lavish furniture/interiors shown.

I liked the mystery element to it as well. There is quite a bit of hushed dialogue, which may cause an issue for viewers who are hard of hearing perhaps? so that's probably worth mentioning. Its also true that there are scenes where the opposite is true - raised, shouty voices too.

There is certainly an element of melodrama present at times. Rachel Weisz does well in her role but I'm not sure I was entirely convinced with Sam Clafin as the main male character, Philip. I wasn't surprised to find this film is based on a novel - it has the feel of a book about it (if that makes any sense) and not in a bad way.

I wouldn't say its an especially memorable film and the incidental music felt perhaps a little overbearing at times, plus it won't interest people keen on fast paced films but that aside, I'd recommend it for the settings and characters, I suppose, just don't expect too much.

It didn't entirely hit the note (as it were) for me but its not an awful film either.