The Wasteland Reviewer

Hamnet (2025) Written Review

Do you know the true story in William Shakespeare’s life that birthed the idea for one of his greatest achievements in Hamlet? Hamnet is a new drama from filmmaker Chloe Zhao that explores the love and loss that planted the rich artistic ideas that would grow into Hamlet. Zhao found recognition with her intimate and small-scale dramas like The Rider and Nomaland but her career took a bit of a detour with Marvel’s Eternals. But Zhao returns to her more grounded dramatic roots with this haunting tale of love and loss. Romance and tragedy. Mysticism and artistic expression. Zhao delivers Hamnet, a story about the ravaging power of grief and the powerful healing power of art. 

What makes Zhao’s Shakespeare tale more than just a moving experience? From the opening shot of the film, you will realize that you are watching one of the most beautiful films of the year. The Dolby screen explodes with rich color and vivid visuals. The forest is such a deeply important element to the overall thematic foundation of the film, and each shot of nature is vividly expressed on screen. The cinematography from Lukasz Zal is an impressive mix of perfectly blocked framing and intensely intimate expression. The artfulness of Zhao’s film is staggering. The music from composer Max Richter is rich with emotion and expression. The score accentuates each moment of emotion whether joy, love, or tragedy. Zhao’s film is the type of film that will leave the audience pouring out tears and sniffling in between the deeply emotional moments of the story. Zhao crafts a film that is deeply intense in every sense of the word. The powerful sexual encounters between Will and Agnes. The birthing scenes highlight the miracle of life. The death that strikes these characters is agonizing and soul shattering. The artistic expression on the stage is simply put…profound. Hamnet is one of the most poetic and lyrical films put to film in a long time both in its visuals and its words. 

Does Zhao’s screenplay match the richness of her filmmaking and her artistic expression? The film is deeply layered with a variety of rich themes. Death and grief are a humanistic tragedy that strikes at any moment. Death is only so powerful because of how powerful the love between parents and their children is. But the love that Zhao explores reaches beyond the parental dynamics as Hamnet explores the romance that shaped Shakespeare’s life. The journey that Will and Agnes go on is full of twists and turns while consistently delivering a rich and compelling experience. The visual expression of art is powerful not only through Zhao’s filmmaking but also her storytelling. The climactic performance of Hamlet in the film is one of the richest sequences in film this year. Shakespeare is a storyteller and poet, and it is only fitting that Zhao script is deeply poetic and full of rich and powerful storytelling. Agnes is a deeply rich character who is isolated by her connection to nature and her “witchery”. This form of faith is challenged in her darkest moments when death befalls a loved one and she cannot stop the encroaching specter of “Death”. Will is an equally isolated figure who is awkward and disconnected from societal norms. His drive and need for artistic expression tears his marriage apart. The exploration of their initial connection and love is impressively rendered through their common isolation and disconnect to the world that shuns them. The first half is a story of love for one another and their children which gives way to a parallel journey of grief that culminates in either the artistic expression or the experiential healing power of art. This is a drama that is so impressively realized and explored that it will leave audiences in awe of its poignancy. 

Could there possibly be any stronger elements in Hamnet than the work of Zhao? There are some of the best performances on film within the last decade (at least). Jessie Buckley…what a force of nature she is. Her performance as Agnes is a towering achievement of acting and will leave audiences in shambles. Her commitment to the power of nature and the natural world is so convincing because of the raw authenticity of Buckley’s work. This might be such a specific aspect of her presence to point out but there is something so uniquely powerful in her distinct screams. The sound she makes when she is in immense pain (both physical and emotional) penetrates you in such a deeply affecting way. Buckley’s little smirks and smiles are welcomed expressions of her joy which are needed to set up the deeply affecting moments in the film when her life comes crumbling down. Buckley’s physicality is second to none which is highlighted in her birthing scene. The natural chemistry that she has with her on-screen children is quite powerful and affecting. The most significant moment of grief and agony in Hamnet is so powerful thanks to the soul crushing emotional expression of Buckley. The final sequence at a theater is sold perfectly by Buckley as her transformation from hollowed husk to a healed individual is so genuine and moving. If Buckley’s performance wasn’t enough, Paul Mescal shines as well as Shakespeare. He finds the perfect frequency of charm and awkwardness. There is also an intensity in Mescal’s performance that is highlighted in his climactic performance on stage and the deeply emotional aftermath of this challenging moment. His chemistry with Buckley is electric and his chemistry with their children is quite endearing. Emily Watson delivers a powerful and memorable turn as Shakespeare’s mother who is present at the most joyous and tragic moments in the film. Then you have young Jacobi Jupe. The children’s performances are strong across the board in Hamnet, but Jupe’s performance as the titular character is something special. His performance is filled to the brim with charisma. This might be the most charismatic child performance in a long time. There are a few scenes where this kid must anchor the whole film and he excels in some profound ways including some of the most beautifully abstract moments in the film. 

Has Zhao gotten her back on track artistically with Hamnet? You are looking at one of the best films of the year…so yes. This is a towering achievement of storytelling, emotion, thematic work, and acting. Hamnetis also one of the most gorgeous and affecting films of the year. Zhao fires on all cylinders and is matched by the powerful performances of Buckley and Mescal. There just might be an evening full of Oscars coming Hamnet’s way.