Rebecca 2020

As Mrs. Van Hopper’s (Ann Dowd) diligent assistant, a young woman finds herself entwined in a whirlwind romance with Maxim De Winter (Armie Hammer), a recently bereaved widower, amidst the opulent backdrop of Monte Carlo. As their courtship blossoms, they find themselves bound by shared experiences and mutual affection, culminating in an engagement that would change the trajectory of her life forever. However, when Mrs. Van Hopper’s disapproving gaze falls upon their clandestine affair, she abruptly departs for New York, leaving our protagonist distraught and desperate for solace.

As fate would have it, Maxim proposes anew, and they marry, embarking on a new chapter in their lives at his majestic estate, Manderley. There, she meets the enigmatic Mrs. Danvers (Kristin Scott Thomas), whose unwavering devotion to his late wife, Rebecca, hangs like an invisible shadow over the proceedings. The staff and Maxim’s acquaintances alike seem to reverberate with a collective nostalgia for the departed matriarch, further emphasizing the new Mrs. De Winter’s inferiority by comparison.

As they settle into their new life, our protagonist begins to uncover the intricacies of Manderley, including the cryptic presence of abandoned cottages and an eerie fondness for Rebecca’s memory, which seems to permeate every aspect of her husband’s existence. Her nocturnal wanderings lead her to groundskeeper Ben (Ben Crompton), who shares a somber truth: Rebecca’s untimely demise in a boating accident had left Maxim with an enduring aversion to the water.

As the new Mrs. De Winter navigates the labyrinthine corridors of Manderley, she finds herself increasingly consumed by the aura surrounding Rebecca. Every artifact, every trinket, and every whispered anecdote seems to whisper her name, fueling a growing resentment towards the departed matriarch. Her curiosity piqued, she forces an entry into Rebecca’s chambers, where Mrs. Danvers regales her with tales of Maxim’s past affection for his late wife, starkly juxtaposing their own lackluster union.

Just as our protagonist begins to make sense of this enigmatic world, a surprise visit from Jack Favell (Sam Riley), Rebecca’s cousin, sets the stage for further turmoil. His arrival sparks a maelstrom of suspicion within Maxim, who had previously banned Favell from the premises, and accuses his wife (Lily James) of infidelity. As she denies the allegations, our protagonist confronts Mrs. Danvers about her perceived treachery, demanding resignation and seeking solace in her new home amidst the swirling vortex of secrets and half-truths that threatens to consume Manderley’s very foundations.

As the unlikely duo of Mrs. Winter (character) and Mrs. Danvers commences their collaboration, the latter proves instrumental in reinvigorating the Manderley Costume Ball, with a suggestion that Mrs. De Winter dons a dress once worn by an ancestor from her own family line. The unexpected choice sends shockwaves through the gathering, prompting Maxim’s (actor name) ire and revealing to his new wife the dark truth about her predecessor, Rebecca. As the veil of deception is lifted, it becomes clear that Mrs. Danvers’ primary objective was to manipulate and humiliate the new Mrs. De Winter, who inadvertently walked into a minefield of secrets and lies.

As the tension builds, Mrs. Danvers’ disdain for the newcomer reaches a fever pitch, prompting her to make a desperate attempt to push Mrs. De Winter off a precipice. However, fate intervenes in the form of a shipwreck brought ashore by the tempestuous storm, which ultimately yields a macabre discovery - Rebecca’s decomposed remains are found on board.

The sudden reappearance of Rebecca’s mortal coil sparks a renewed investigation into her untimely demise, prompting Maxim to confess to his wife that his marriage to the late Mrs. De Winter was a charade all along. He reveals that Rebecca was a master manipulator, who delighted in causing chaos and suffering. On the fateful night of her passing, she confronted Maxim with a devastating revelation - she was pregnant with another man’s child (possibly Favell, her own cousin), which she intended to raise under the guise of being Maxim’s offspring.

In a fit of rage, Rebecca goaded Maxim into pulling the trigger, after which she used his boat and sank it, disposing of her lifeless body. The weight of this confession serves as a catalyst for Mrs. De Winter’s epiphany - despite the revelations, she is relieved to know that her husband loves her truly and resolves to stand by him throughout the ensuing investigation.

Meanwhile, Favell attempts to exploit Maxim’s vulnerability with an insidious blackmail scheme, claiming possession of a note written by Rebecca herself, which supposedly reveals her true intentions - a far cry from the suicide she had initially been suspected of. The only individuals privy to this pivotal information are Maxim, Mrs. De Winter, and the doctor who treated Rebecca on the day of her demise in London - an eerie silence that underscores the complexity of the mystery now unfolding.

As the trial unfolds, the shocking truth emerges that Rebecca’s boat was intentionally sabotaged. The enigmatic Mrs. Danvers takes center stage, her testimony hinting at a scandalous affair between Rebecca and Favell. Meanwhile, the prosecution reveals a check written by Maxim to Favell, sparking suspicions of murder. With the noose tightening around his neck, Maxim is taken into custody. Back at Manderley, the once-loyal Mrs. Danvers turns against her mistress, exposing Rebecca’s toxic relationships with every man in her life.

Mrs. De Winter, now fully aware of her husband’s alleged role in Rebecca’s demise, takes matters into her own hands. She terminates Danvers’ employment and tracks down Rebecca’s doctor, only to discover that the deceased was not pregnant after all - her advanced uterine cancer would have made it impossible. This stunning revelation prompts an investigator to conclude that Rebecca took a drastic step by scuttling her own boat, a desperate attempt to escape her mortal coil.

As Mrs. De Winter navigates this labyrinth of secrets and lies, she privately concludes that Rebecca deliberately orchestrated events to ensnare Maxim in her web of deceit. With the truth finally out, Maxim is exonerated and he and his wife set off on their journey home. However, their drive is disrupted by a catastrophic fire at Manderley, which they soon discover was started by Mrs. Danvers herself before she fled the scene.

As the flames subside, Mrs. De Winter rushes to the cliffs, where she finds Danvers poised precariously on the edge of despair. Her desperate attempts to reason with the troubled soul are met with a curse - that she and Maxim will never know true happiness. With a heavy heart, Danvers takes the plunge, her body lost in the unforgiving sea.

Years later, Mrs. De Winter awakens from a haunting dream, only to find herself nestled beside Maxim, as they embark on a quest for their dream home, forever changed by the secrets that have haunted them thus far.