Review: Spencer

Don’t expect “Spencer” to be another ordinary biopic of Princess Diana. This almost gothic horror centers around an actual moment when Princess Diana (Kristen Stewart) spent Christmas with the Royal Family. As for what happened during that weekend, well, that’s the fictional aspect.  

The movie dives into Diana’s depression as her marriage to Prince Charles (Jack Farthing is falling apart. She seeks solace in things that remind her of her childhood while constantly comparing her life to Anne Boleyn’s. 

The camera shots show the scale of the vast landscapes and the enormous estate’s emptiness, making you feel just as small and insignificant as Diana does. The intensity in Pablo Larrin’s tragic tale is amplified by an ever-screeching dissonant score that will make you feel uneasy. Every frame is made to take you into Diana’s mind and walk in her shoes. 

Kristen Stewart gives a fierce performance that is truly transformative and will put her in the running for an Oscar. She captured the nuances of Princess Diana perfectly. Her impersonation was well done, but her acting still shined when she didn’t say a word at all. 

Now that I’ve said the good, we’ll get into the not-so-good. “Spencer” is just shy of two hours, and that is the film’s downfall. It drags on, and some viewers may fall off and disconnect from the story. The script is trippy, to say the least. While it is fictionalized, at times, it makes the Princess seem unhinged in a bad way.

There is an undeniable fascination with The Royal Family. Thousands of films, television shows, and books can be released, and they will still be consumed. While it may be dreadfully long and at times a little too frazzled, “Spencer” is a refreshing take on The People’s Princess. I also wouldn’t be surprised if it lands a few Oscar nominations and possibly a few wins.