Review of Phantom Thread (2017) by Raghauv G — 03 Feb 2018

Great acting could not overcome what was frankly a disturbing and dysfunctional story and relationship. Whatever relationship is between Alma and Reynolds, it's not one of love if it has to be sustained by periodic poisoning.

It's unhealthy, end of. The characters are not easy to empathise with and the sub-plots involving Reynold's obsession with his mother and stitching messages into hems added nether clarity nor engagement to the main narrative.

I don't need to like the film or the characters, I don't need slapstick humour or constant action but I do need to get something out of the films I see - something valuable to recompense me for the 2 hours.

This just didn't quite cut it - I was not moved (save for a feeling of disquiet which stayed with me for hours afterwards) and learnt nothing except that I felt better about their relationship if I viewed them both as more than a bit unstable.