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We Have Always Lived in the Castle (2018)

We Have Always Lived in the Castle (2018)



Laura’s Rating: 2/5 Stars


An unsettling mystery based on Shirley Jackson’s novel of the same name. 


Plot: Sisters Mary Katherine (or Merricat) and Constance Blackwood live with their Uncle Julian in their family manor. Years earlier, the rest of their family was poisoned at dinner and died. Constance was tried and acquitted for murder but the townspeople remain suspicious of the girls. The family now lives in near isolation, avoiding the townspeople and the outside world as much as possible until the unexpected arrival of a cousin. 


Analysis: This movie is not necessarily a bad adaptation of the book but it is incredibly slow moving at times, making the film a bit boring. The eerie, unsettling nature of the book comes across as just quirky and awkward in the movie. 


I don’t think the setup is very clear for someone unfamiliar with the story. While I did appreciate a few added details in the movie to flesh out the Blackwood family’s history with the town, there were still many gaps and unanswered questions. There were some potential themes emphasized in the movie, but they still were not fully explored. The book left me wanting more and so did the movie. 


Sebastian Stan’s performance as cousin Charles was a highlight for me and he really made his character come alive on screen. The other acting was alright, but the characters seemed stilted and restrained (this is likely by design, but it was frustrating to watch). 


Overall, I didn’t love We Have Always Lived in the Castle. If you’re a huge fan of the book, you may enjoy the film adaptation.

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