'Haunting' period drama has viewers 'blown away' by lead actress 'stellar' performance

This 2016 British film has made quite the lasting impression on its viewers thanks to the budding actress that made her huge breakthrough in this role.

With a strong 89% overall review score on Rotten Tomatoes, it's clear the way that period drama fans feel about Lady Macbeth, the "haunting" film based on the 1865 novella Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District. Florence Pugh played the titular character at just 21 and her passionate performance helped to establish her as 'one to watch' in Hollywood.

Set in 19th-century England, the plot follows a young woman who is left feeling suffocated in her loveless marriage, as her husband is not only twice her age but also abusive and bitter towards her. The strict schedule she is forced to follow prevents her from leaving the house until her husband is away on business and then she has all the time and freedom to explore.

While on her solo adventures in the grounds of their home, she begins a passionate affair with a young worker on the estate. While this may seem like a romantic story, her strong feelings unleash a new power inside of her, and she will not stop until she gets exactly what she wants.

A Rotten Tomatoes review reads: "Lady Macbeth is a cinematic gem, mainly for the impressive and raw performance of Florence Pugh, as well as being accompanied by a very interesting plot twist, a wonderful script and extremely surprising twists. Definitely a film that is great, fantastic, scary, cruel and fascinating at the same time, certainly a masterpiece."

Another impressed viewer shared: "This thing had me picking up my jaw from the floor from time to time. The main character is such an interesting and frightening force. No wonder Florence Pugh was such an instant star."

While one person couldn't help but give all the film's praise to Pugh's performance, claiming it was a "performance for the ages". They added: "She played that role with such complexity, I couldn't help but find myself sympathising with her, helplessly drawn into her twisted plot until it was too late to turn back.

"Shot mostly in long takes, the director and editor really gave Florence Pugh the freedom to deliver the performance she wanted, and the movie is all the better for it. Lady Macbeth delivered on stellar, excellent character development and top-notch costume design. The same was true of the production design and art direction."

Playing her husband in the film, Alexander Lester, is actor Paul Hilton, alongside Cosmo Jarvis as Sebastian and Naomi Ackie as Anna. Joining the cast on screen are Christopher Fairbank and Br

A reviewer shared their experience watching the film, having known nothing about it prior.

They explained: "I did not expect to love this movie. I only read the synopsis before watching and didn't even take a look at the cast, but Florence Pugh's performance blew me away (I've come to expect that of her)...the coldness that she depicted when anything or anyone stood in the way of what she wanted was amazing."

For period drama fans who love to lose themselves in charming costumes and grand estates, Landy Macbeth provides just that. Add some edge-of-your-seat scenes and intense acting, and you've got yourself a 'masterpiece' of a film, which is available to stream now on Amazon Prime.