Hamnet (2025) Review — A Haunting Meditation on Grief, Love, and Artistic Legacy
🎭 What Is Hamnet
Hamnet tells the fictionalised, emotionally charged story of William Shakespeare, his wife Agnes, and the death of their son — a tragedy that the film imagines may have inspired Shakespeare’s masterpiece Hamlet. The film is directed by Chloé Zhao and marks a deeply intimate and evocative return for the filmmaker. Wikipedia+2Rotten Tomatoes+2
At its core, the film explores grief, loss, and the way personal tragedy can become artistic fuel. It’s less a history lesson than a lyrical meditation on love, mourning, and creation. Metacritic+2WBUR+2
⭐ Critical Reception & Strengths
- On aggregators, Hamnet has earned strong acclaim: an 87/100 Metascore and about 88% on Rotten Tomatoes. Metacritic+1
- Many critics laud the film’s emotional power, calling it “devastating and magnetic.” Metacritic+1
- The leading performances — especially from Jessie Buckley (as Agnes) and Paul Mescal (as William/Shakespeare) — stand out. Their portrayal of grief, love, and quiet turmoil anchors the film’s emotional weight. Rotten Tomatoes+2Common Sense Media+2
- Visually and atmospherically, the film excels. From intimate house interiors to countryside settings, cinematography and production design immerse the audience in the period world — but also in the inner emotional landscape of loss and longing. Deep Focus Review+2Rotten Tomatoes+2
Overall, Hamnet is widely regarded as one of 2025’s most affecting and artful films, one that combines tragedy, beauty, and creative ambition. Metacritic+1
⚠️ What Might Not Work for Everyone
- Some reviewers find the film’s tone overly stylized and emotionally heavy — its poetic, sometimes slow pacing may feel sluggish to viewers expecting traditional narrative drive. Deep Focus Review+2WBUR+2
- For audiences expecting a straightforward biopic or historical drama, Hamnet might frustrate. Its speculative linking of real events to fictional emotional truths — e.g., suggesting Shakespeare’s grief directly inspired Hamlet — takes creative license, and some critics view that as emotionally manipulative or historically dubious. WBUR+1
- The film demands emotional openness from its viewers: grief, sorrow, and tragedy are front and center. That intensity may be too raw or heavy for casual viewing. Common Sense Media+1
🎬 Verdict: Who Should See It
Hamnet will likely resonate most with:
- Fans of emotionally driven dramas — especially those open to grief, loss, and reflection rather than action or melodrama.
- Admirers of strong, character-driven performances: Buckley and Mescal deliver depth and vulnerability that elevate the film.
- Viewers interested in literary and artistic cinema: by reimagining the personal life behind a legendary author, Hamnet offers a poetic take on creativity, grief, and legacy.
If you appreciate atmospheric, emotionally intense films that don’t shy away from sorrow or ambiguity, Hamnet is one of 2025’s standout releases.
