My Cousin Rachel (2017)

Introduction
"My Cousin Rachel" is a 2017 movie directed by Roger Michell, based upon the book of the exact same name by Daphne du Maurier. This mesmerizing movie stars Rachel Weisz, Sam Claflin, Iain Glen, and Holliday Grainger. The movie is a psychological-romantic drama embeded in the early 1800s.

Plot
The movie focuses on a young Englishman, Philip, who looks for revenge versus his captivating cousin Rachel, believing she murdered his guardian Ambrose. However, his sensations become made complex as he discovers himself falling helplessly in love with her. His guardian raised him as a kid however later married Rachel when he moved to Florence due to health issues. Quickly after, Ambrose passed away inexplicably.

Setting and Character Development
The story unfolds in a big estate in Cornwall, England, whose atmosphere of quiet isolation matches Philip's naïveté and lack of worldly experience. Weisz, as Rachel, perfectly embodies the function of a widow whose uncertain nature leaves room for doubts. Is she a caring partner dispossessed, or a shrewd murderer?

Philip's Revenge and Descent into Obsession
Driven by the despairing letters of Ambrose before his death, which hinted at Rachel's possible involvement in his degrading health, Philip prepares to expose and punish her. However, Rachel's appeal and elegance soon capture him. He quickly changes his plain and simple life, providing valuable household treasures and, ultimately, his entire inheritance to her. Philip's obsession grows, even as indications significantly suggest that Rachel might not have his best interests at heart.

Conclusion
The climax leaves viewers hanging in the air with more questions than responses. After a horse-riding accident caused by a defective rein that Rachel provided Philip, he is bedridden. In his delirium, Rachel looks after him, brewing her signature Italian natural tea. His health rapidly degrades and, in his hallucinations, he pictures Rachel poisoning him with the tea. On her return from London, Rachel passes away from an accident on a newly constructed bridge-- leaving Philip and audiences to wonder if his suspicions were proper or if they resulted in an innocent woman's death.

General Analysis
"My Cousin Rachel" is an appealing movie that mesmerizes you with its secret, making you ride along with Philip's psychological journey-- balancing in between love, fixation, and mistrust. Rachel Weisz brilliantly embodies a character whose aura of mystique keeps the audience guessing about her objectives. The movie's hauntingly lovely setting contrasts with the dark storyline, delving into human emotions, psychological manipulation, and the tragic repercussions it could have.

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