Hamnet 2025 Review - MagicMoviesz Review

Man, life back in the 16th century? It was wild, brutal, and often cut short, especially for kids. We're all so fixated on William Shakespeare, the literary GOAT, right? We know his plays, his sonnets, his legendary genius. But what about the real-life stuff that brewed behind the scenes? What about the people who shaped him, particularly the women who often get sidelined in history? Hamnet swoops in like a majestic hawk, snatching our attention and redirecting it, not to the Bard himself, but to the fiercely compelling Agnes Hathaway, the woman behind the myth, and the profound, soul-crushing grief that birthed one of his most iconic works. This isn't just another historical drama, it's a visceral, deeply emotional journey that kinda makes you rethink everything you thought you knew about inspiration and loss.

Chloé Zhao, fresh off her Nomadland triumph and, uh, Eternals detour, really comes back to her roots with Hamnet, hitting us right in the feels with her signature blend of raw human emotion and sweeping, almost mystical landscapes. Based on Maggie O'Farrell's acclaimed novel, which she co-wrote the screenplay for, the film doesn't just adapt; it immerses. It starts by introducing us to Agnes (a mesmerizing Jessie Buckley), a woman so connected to nature, she's practically part of the forest itself. She's got this "witchy" vibe, a deep understanding of herbs and an almost premonitory sense that sets her apart. Her encounter with a young, ambitious Latin tutor, William Shakespeare (Paul Mescal, just nailing it), sparks this intense, almost fated romance. Their early days are filled with a kind of wild, untamed love, a stark contrast to the rigid society around them. Zhao captures this with such intimacy, making their bond feel incredibly real, despite the historical distance. You feel the pull, the chemistry, the way they complete each other even before words are spoken. It's a proper slow burn, building up their life together with their children – Susanna, and then the twins, Judith and Hamnet.

But the film's beating heart, the real gut-punch, comes with the titular Hamnet (Jacobi Jupe), their son. The narrative structure, much like the novel, isn't strictly linear; it dances between the couple's passionate courtship and the devastating events leading up to Hamnet's death in 1596. When Judith, Hamnet's twin, falls ill with the bubonic plague, there's this excruciating sequence where Hamnet, driven by a desperate, childlike love, tries to "trick death" into taking him instead. The irony, the tragedy, is almost unbearable as he actually succumbs, leaving Agnes and William shattered. The film really dedicates itself to exploring the gaping chasm this loss creates, particularly in Agnes. Her grief isn't performative; it's a primal, all-consuming force that Jessie Buckley embodies with breathtaking vulnerability and ferocity. You see her inner journey, grappling with a pain that no parent should ever endure, and how it strains her relationship with William, who escapes to London, channeling his own inexpressible sorrow into his art. The film doesn't shy away from the messy, isolating nature of grief, showing how two people, once so connected, can be driven apart by the very thing that should unite them. It's an exploration of how tragedy can both destroy and, eventually, reshape lives, culminating in the genesis of Hamlet – a play that becomes an immortal echo of their lost son.

MagicReview gives Score 9.2 out of 10 gold stars for Hamnet.

That’s all we have for now.

Have you read Maggie O'Farrell's novel, and how do you think the film captures its essence? What do you find most compelling about the portrayal of Agnes's grief in the film?