Spencer (2021)

Cast includes:
CHARACTER	ACTOR/ACTRESS	RATING
Diana, Princess of Wales	Kristen Stewart
Equerry Major Alistair Gregory	Timothy Spall
Prince William	Jack Nielen	½
Prince Harry	Freddy Spry	-
Charles, Prince of Wales	Jack Farthing	½
Royal Head Chef Darren McGrady	Sean Harris
Royal Dresser Maggie	Sally Hawkins
Queen Elizabeth II	Stella Gonet	-
Prince Philip	Richard Sammel	-
Anne, Princess Royal	Elizabeth Berrington	-
Anne Boleyn	Amy Manson	-

Review

If you had been under the impression that living in the British royal family would be a right nightmare, this film will definitely convince you of just that. Chilean director Pablo Larraín's approach is a fusion of supernatural horror, psychological thriller and British period drama, with Sandringham House standing in for the Overlook Hotel and Kristen Stewart almost going as mad as Jack Torrance surrounded by what Larraín and his team suggest are antiquated royal zombies. Larraín paints a bleak picture of the circumstances surrounding Diana's departure from the royal family, and there are some profound scenes, elevated by a wonderfully evocative jazz score from Jonny Greenwood. If you don't exactly get an insight into how it was to be Diana in this period, you're at least fed the filmmakers' clear impression of it. Spencer is a suggestive piece, but it lacks a narrative. It's as if the filmmakers felt they needn't tell a story which is already known. But it's not, really. And it still isn't. This is little more than a gossip media presentation with artistic merit – and with Kristen Stewart showing off her versatility as an actress. Sean Harris is fascinating (as always) in what might just be the film's most interesting character as the royal head chef.