
Philip, an orphan, was taken in and brought up by his cousin Ambrose, a Devon landowner he loves like a father. At a time, Ambrose, who has been advised by his physician a warmer climate, leaves for Tuscany. There he meets and marry Rachel, a half-Italian cousin of his. After an idyllic outset, the situation deteriorates. Shortly before his death, Ambrose manages to alert Philip: his wife is killing him slowly. Willing to sort out the truth, Philip goes to Ambrose's place but... (Full plot summary below)
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Philip, an orphan, was taken in and brought up by his cousin Ambrose, a Devon landowner he loves like a father. At a time, Ambrose, who has been advised by his physician a warmer climate, leaves for Tuscany. There he meets and marry Rachel, a half-Italian cousin of his. After an idyllic outset, the situation deteriorates. Shortly before his death, Ambrose manages to alert Philip: his wife is killing him slowly. Willing to sort out the truth, Philip goes to Ambrose's place but he does not find Rachel, who has gone away. Instead he meets Rainaldi, her friend and lawyer, who does not inspire him with confidence. He returns to his estate, persuaded that Rachel is evil and is the direct cause of Ambrose's death. Some time later, Rachel announces her coming. Determined to welcome her coolly, he is stunned to discover a woman not only beautiful but elegant, intelligent and sensitive. Instead of strangling her like he said he would, he falls in love. Madly.
Leave your thoughts about My Cousin Rachel.
| The Public (Buffalo)M. FaustMy Cousin Rachel is an incessantly shifting story of "Did she or didn't she?" Literary types like to call this ambiguity, but director Roger Michell, who also wrote the screenplay, doesn't quite have a handle on that device. |
| Sight and SoundLisa MullenUnderlying it all is a strongly feminist message about power, money and male fear of what might happen if a woman should gain possession of both - agreeably subversive stuff to find in a crowd-pleasing period drama. |
| Original CinKim HughesWhat makes [My Cousin Rachel] so engaging is that the audience never quite knows who it's cheering for. Turns out being off-balance is pretty darn exhilarating. |
| The Mary SueCaroline CaoAs a mid-twentieth century writer revisiting the 19th century, du Maurier played with tropes and archetypes, and in this adaptation, Rachel Weisz as the title character is a sight to behold. |
| The Mary SueCharline JaoAs a mid-twentieth century writer revisiting the 19th century, du Maurier played with tropes and archetypes, and in this adaptation, Rachel Weisz as the title character is a sight to behold. |
| KDHX (St. Louis)Diane CarsonMy Cousin Rachel is an old-fashioned movie requiring viewers to shift to a slower pace to appreciate its anchored narrative. |
| AV ClubIgnatiy VishnevetskyIt might not be a visual buffet on the order of Guillermo Del Toro’s "Crimson Peak," but sometimes a more modest meal will do. |
| Fresh FictionCourtney HowardMichell has brought the shockingly-timely text back into modern relevancy by reinvigorating the novel's feminist bent. |
| Film Ireland MagazineDavid TurpinHolliday Grainger is appealing as Philip's own lovelorn admirer, Louise, while Simon Russell Beale and Tim Barlow make characteristic hay with smaller parts as family lawyer and faithful retainer, respectively. |
| Detroit NewsAdam GrahamGood mysteries are only worth solving if the set-up leaves you craving answers, and "My Cousin Rachel" doesn't beg to be unlocked. It's easy to leave behind. |