Movie Review: Hamnet (2025)
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 sit-down with pure grief.
THE PROS
- Masterclass performance by Jessie Buckley.
- Breathtaking Zhao-esque cinematography.
- A sincere, top-tier production.
THE CONS
- Borderline traumatic viewing experience.
- Strains under its own pretension.
- Lacks the balance of Shakespeare in Love.
The film captures the unimaginable pain of parental loss with such intensity that it almost feels like emotional manipulation. While I appreciate the film intellectually as one of the best-crafted works of 2025, I found myself angry at the filmmakers for the level of trauma inflicted on the audience.
"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."
There is also a palpable air of pretension here. Chloe Zhao seems to suggest that Hamlet—arguably the greatest work of art in history—requires this harrowing backstory to be fully appreciated. It doesn't. By simplifying the play's origins into a singular tragedy, the film risks diminishing the very legacy it tries to celebrate.
The Verdict
An accomplished work that I simply cannot recommend. Hamnet delivers its message of grief with a sledgehammer. Watch at your own emotional peril.
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