We Have Always Lived in the Castle (2018) is one of those films that is essentially perfectly cast. A movie wouldn’t be able to duplicate the emotions associated with Shirley Jackson’s novel, but the movie is very close. Following the death of the stern parents of sisters, Mary Katherine and Constance Blackwood, the “castle” is left inhabited by just the sisters and Uncle Julian, an obsessive invalid. Just the three until the interloper, Cousin Charles, appears from nowhere. Jackson always weaves several plots together to make a whole. Here we have the “mystery” of the parents’ death by poison, the “object” of Charles, and the bitter hatred of the Vermont villagers toward the surviving Blackwoods. (Notice no quotes in the third part of that sentence. Jackson’s “mysteries” were usually fairly obvious; that is not what made her novels wonderful.) The two sisters, Merricat played by Taissa Farmiga and Constance played by Alexandra Daddario, are nearly flawlessly portraying their appropriate parts. I can not imagine was how difficult that must have been. I haven’t read everything of Jackson’s, but I always cringe when I hear the term “horror” and even “mystery” attached to her books; well, except for The Haunting of Hill House, that is. I find that deep emotions, the reality of the human’s ability to be inhuman, and the fragility of some humans and not others are featured aspects of her works. This film shows it in spades. You will not be scared watching the movie, but you will definitely have deep feelings. Mine were sympathy for the protagonists, but yours might not be.
One of Shirley Jackson's Great Stories Realized in Movie
I have a few books of Shirley Jackson stories. This was one favorite. I thought that the movie creators did a great job of recreating this story. The casting is great and as I picutured the characters. I only wished that they would eventually produce this on Blu-ray.