Hamnet - Movie Review

Hamnet

A Profoundly Shattering Descent into Pure Grief

★★★½☆

An intellectually impeccable achievement that serves as an emotionally grueling wringer.

Directed by Chloé Zhao, Hamnet is a profoundly shattering look at the theoretical inspiration for Shakespeare’s Hamlet. While aesthetically beautiful and impeccably acted—specifically by a luminous Jessie Buckley and a strong Paul Mescal—it is an emotionally grueling experience that feels less like entertainment and more like a direct sit-down with pure grief. The film captures the unimaginable pain of parental loss with such intensity that it borders on emotional manipulation.

"I equate watching Hamnet to being put into an emotional wringer without my full consent. I wanted to watch a movie—not lose sleep over a newly acquired, unwanted memory."

— Ray Manukay

🎬 Cast & Crew

• Director: Chloé Zhao
• Starring: Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal
• Source Material: Maggie O'Farrell (Novel)
• Cinematography: Zhao-esque visual mastery

The Vision

There is a palpable air of pretension here. Chloé Zhao seems to suggest that Hamlet—arguably the greatest work of art in history—requires this harrowing backstory to be fully appreciated. By simplifying the play's origins into a singular tragedy, the film risks diminishing the very legacy it tries to celebrate. While the production is sincere and top-tier, it lacks the necessary balance found in genre staples like Shakespeare in Love.

🎬 Cinephile Fun Facts

• Literary Roots: Based on the 2020 award-winning novel by Maggie O'Farrell, which explores the life of Agnes (Anne) Hathaway.
• Zhao's Return: This film marks Chloé Zhao's return to intimate, character-driven drama following her stint in the MCU with Eternals.
• Award Pedigree: Buckley and Mescal are both Academy Award nominees, bringing a heavy-hitting dramatic weight to this 16th-century setting.

✅ Pros

• Masterclass performance by Jessie Buckley.
• Breathtaking, luminous cinematography.
• Impeccable technical production and period authenticity.

❌ Cons

• Borderline traumatic and grueling viewing experience.
• Strains under its own sense of pretension.
• Lacks narrative balance or relief from the trauma.

🏆 Final Verdict

An accomplished work that I simply cannot recommend. Hamnet delivers its message of grief with a sledgehammer. Watch at your own emotional peril.

View original review on Letterboxd