Spencer

The Tragically Fabled Ghost Story of Princess Di

By Kami Kendall

Director Pablo Larrain hypnotizes viewers with his enchanting blend of a haunting score and bright, surreal landscapes captured within unique shots that make this biopic read like a refined Ari Aster horror film. Following Princess Diana through a dreaded royal “family” Christmas in the year before her marriage’s dissolution, Larrain masterfully indulges in hints of fantasy and fable while somehow also framing the most intimately accurate portrayal of the princess to grace the big screen.

As Diana is dragged into a tension-filled Christmas celebration with the rigidly traditional royal family, the mansion is transformed into a haunted one, full of hidden eyes watching her every move and the imagined ghost of Anne Boleyn mirroring her own experiences. Viewers are immersed in Diana’s unsettled mental state as she copes with a cheating husband and loveless marriage under the scrutiny of the public eye. Scenes contrast between tender moments that she spends as a loving mother to her children and disturbingly harsh scenes of her bulimia and self-harm (which is why this film is not for everybody).

Kristen Stewart’s stunning performance is a sweet surprise as her expert reflection of even the princess’s most subtle mannerisms makes it difficult to remember that they are not actually the same person. For someone (like myself) who does not normally bother with royal family affairs, this film is still a must-see simply for its artfully alluring depiction of historical fantasy. Spencer is no doubt a shoo-in for the Oscars.