tech
February 5, 2026
Hamlet review
Timothy Spall and Art Malik co-star in Aneil Karia’s intelligent and stark retelling of Shakespeare’s tragedy, set in the world of shady family business
TL;DR
- A modern, stripped-down interpretation of Shakespeare's Hamlet set in London's business world.
- Riz Ahmed stars as Hamlet, haunted by his father's ghost who claims he was murdered by his brother, Claudius.
- Claudius is portrayed as a property speculator who has married Hamlet's mother, Gertrude.
- The film features a violent murder of Polonius and explores Hamlet's indecision and 'confrontational madness'.
- Ophelia, played by Morfydd Clark, is deeply affected by Hamlet's coldness.
- Most soliloquies are omitted, but 'To be, or not to be' is delivered intensely.
- The interpretation raises questions about the ghost's accusations being a hallucination.
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