Against this background, one can see that there is crazy pressure being put on director Ben Wheatley’s Rebecca – a film that is not just a remake, but a remake of a thriller by the filmmaker, whom cinema history recognizes as the master of tension. The 1940 Alfred Hitchcock film starring Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine has proven itself and is still considered one of the filmmaker’s best. However, Wheatley had his own vision of how the story could be made using modern techniques, and the finished product proves he is making the leap right. The Netflix release is an atmospheric and well-constructed adaptation of Daphne Du Maurier’s original novel, which is becoming popular largely thanks to its stylistic flair and the excellent performances of leads Lily James and Armie Hammer.
