We Have Always Lived in the Castle

As with most mystery films in modern cinema the intrigue which captures an audiences attention lies in a film-makers ability to sustain and unravel a plot sufficiently over the duration of a movie.

The pacing of this movie is painfully slow, but only because there is a limited amount of content to faithfully adapt. Otherwise, it's well acted, surprising and suspenseful.

Do yourself a favor and do not ruin the movie's plot for yourself before you watch it, otherwise you'll be depriving yourself of most its entertainment value

I have read both bad and good reviews about this movie, and I have decided to side with the good reviews. Like any other movie, this one had many WTF parts, and scene where you're gonna want to pause and think "okay what?" BUT HOWEVER, the acting in this movie was absolutely outstanding, Alexandra, Taissa, Sebastian and Crispin did the roles absolute justice. One more thing, if you're here for the thriller/horror, don't bother. This movie is pure drama. It's thriller in the sense of "creepy" but otherwise it's just Drama. Loved the directing. LOVED the acting too.

'We Have Always Lived in the Castle' is a dark twisted family drama. It was about how a bunch of people trying to cope after a dreadful tragedy & how people around them had act. It is about how lack of kindness or a misplaced concern could push people to do terrible things. Lack of sympathy & empathy really could push people to do terrible terrible things. Taissa Farmiga was a force of nature & Alexandra Daddario has now earn my respect as an actress. As sisters, they stay true to what usually close sisters do for one another. Sebastian Stan as expected (after I, Tonya) serving another astounding performance as a charming but hateful, sort of misunderstood antagonist.

I liked the telling of this story. I thought Taissa Farmiga did a great job. The Cousin was certainly good at being creepy. And Glover was usually weird self as he is in everything he's in.

6/10

We have always lived in a Castle - B (Good)

Based on Shirley Jackson's novel, the movie has intriguing premises and performances by Alexandra Daddario, Sebastian Stan and Crispin Glover. The movie did its best to create the atmospheric tension and town's hatred towards sisters successfully. While watching it, you do wonder who can look after Constance better, her sister Merricat or her cousin Charles. They both have their own motives, which in long run are not good for Constance. I have not read the book so, I am not sure if the book have more characterisation which can help us feel empathy towards understand Merricat. Her choices are questionable even if it's to save her sister as she comes across needy afraid to be left alone than a guardian.

Taissa Farmiga performance was good but her casting as a teenager in her 20s takes you away from the premise of intrigue of younger sister looking after her elder sister as Alexandria and Taissa maybe are around same age. Movie "Atonement" worked, as Saoirse Ronan was 13yrs old playing 13 years old. I reckon, movie would have been more effective with younger actress as Merricat.

I still enjoyed the movie, and was hooked by story and performances.