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The Netflix period drama is based on a beloved classic Gothic novel of the same name.

Enthusiasts of period dramas might be missing out on a Netflix treasure that’s adapted from one of literature’s most cherished classics.

This thriller, praised as “gripping from beginning to end”, features a beloved Downton Abbey star alongside a celebrated actress from Slow Horses.

Rebecca, which debuted on Netflix in 2020, draws from Daphne Du Maurier’s renowned thriller bearing the same title.

The 1938 Gothic masterpiece remains a timeless favourite due to its compelling themes and jaw-dropping plot twists, proving the tale continues to mesmerise audiences nearly a century on.

This bestselling novel has seen numerous adaptations throughout the decades, with Alfred Hitchcock’s Rebecca claiming the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1940.

The latest interpretation comes from director Ben Wheatley’s Netflix production, showcasing performances from Call me by Your Name’s Armie Hammer, Lily James and Kristin Scott Thomas.

James gained recognition portraying Rose in Downton Abbey, Young Donna in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again and Pamela Anderson in Pam and Tommy.

Meanwhile, British theatrical icon Kristin Scott Thomas is renowned for her roles as Diana Taverner in Slow Horses, Fiona in Four Weddings and a Funeral and Sylvia McCordle in Gosford Park.

The IMDb synopsis for Rebecca states: “A young newlywed arrives at her husband’s imposing family estate on a windswept English coast and finds herself battling the shadow of his first wife, Rebecca, whose legacy lives on in the house long after her death.”

Rebecca holds a disappointing 37% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, though based on viewer feedback, many believe the film deserves far greater recognition, reports the Express.

Enthusiasts flocked to the comments section to voice their opinions, with one declaring: “This movie gripped me from beginning to end. I couldn’t look away, and I didn’t see anything coming. You think you know what the movie is about, then there is a twist, and the whole thing takes a left turn you didn’t see coming.”

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Another viewer exclaimed: “ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT! ! !” before adding: “Nothing can touch the original masterpiece however this film, in many ways, is faithful Du Mauriers cunning flip of stereotypes.”

A third fan wrote: “Loved the thrill, love story, period views, so well made I would watch it again,” whilst another concurred: “Loved the book and this version of it in film. Have watched I many times. Great cast and acting.”

Additional supporters praised how the timeless novel had been transformed for Netflix, with one suggesting: “If you’ve read Rebecca and it’s a beloved novel to you, this movie is amazing. A great rendition.”

Another viewer expressed bafflement at the film’s critical mauling, writing: “I don’t understand all the bad reviews for Rebecca. I loved the new adaptation. I especially loved the costumes and filming locations. Lily James does a wonderful job.”

One supporter declared: “Excellent twist on a classic thriller! I am not sure why this doesn’t have better reviews but it is well worth your time,” whilst another concurred: “This movie is a stunningly faithful adaptation of Daphne du Maurier’s classic novel.”

A further enthusiast gushed: “What a ride! ! ! This genre bending thriller will take you on the wildest roller coaster of your life. The next time someone asks me what my favorite movie is, I’m saying Rebecca.”

They added: “This movie surpassed my every expectation. Here I was, sitting on the couch expecting some lame romance but nope! ! I am going to pass this movie down through generations of my family.”

Yet not everyone shared the enthusiasm, with one viewer noting: “Bland to the point of boring.”

Another complained: “What was an interesting, suspenseful book with hints of psychological thriller in it became a vapid, rushed, and bland movie that sapped two hours of my life. If you like your movies to stick to the plot of your books, avoid this.”

A third grumbled: “As much as I love the actors and actresses in this movie, nothing about it really had me enjoying the film. The clichés were handed out like appetizers and the plot of the film was all over the place. Wasn’t a fan.”

Nevertheless, considering all the glowing feedback from fans despite the film’s disappointing Rotten Tomatoes rating, Rebecca might well be regarded as an undervalued gem.

Rebecca is available to stream now on Netflix.

**For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the new **Everything Gossip** website**

The Mirror’s Milo Boyd went to check out a chicken and chips restaurant owned by a 80s hit maker

It seems like the celebrity world and his dog are getting in on the restaurant and pub game at the moment.

There is, of course, Ian McKellen’s The Grapes, James Blunt’s Fox and Pheasant, rugby legend Gavin Henson’s The Fox and even Bertie Blossoms, which is owned by Ed Sheeran.

The reason why stars are investing in the world of food and drink isn’t completely clear, as least from the outside. The restaurant industry is notoriously difficult to make money in, and celebrity-owned restaurants have a chequered history. Planet Hollywood launched in 1991 to great fanfare, thanks to its famous investors, including Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Sylvester Stallone. However, it filed for bankruptcy just a few years later. It was followed shortly after by Fashion Cafe, an international restaurant chain fronted by Naomi Campbell and Claudia Schiffer.

READ MORE: ‘I got 72% off a £1,729 5* all-inclusive – but there were some big drawbacks’READ MORE: I paid £106 for lunch at British music legend’s pub — I can sum it up in two words

Gemma Krysko, co-director of Manchester-based PR agency We Are Indigo, argues that celebrities who don’t attach their names or faces to hospitality ventures have the best chance of success. Which might sound counterintuitive, given their personal brands are what they trade off.

“People like the authenticity of a restaurant being owned by a family or an independent, or someone who’s working really hard to do well in life and have some success. Sometimes, when people already have a successful background or are quite well off do something, it might feel like it’s a bit tacky,” she told Vice.

Mikkeller is a bar brand with more than 250 branches across 37 countries, so it’s far from an independent joint. However, two of its London venues are the quiet work of 80s musical icon, Rick Astley. You would be forgiven for not knowing that the ‘Never going to give you up’ hitmaker was involved if you just walked past Mikkeller Bar London in Shoreditch or its sister brewpub in Exmouth Market.

The latter looks right at home on the trendy street, with its striped yellow awning, rust-effect signage and space for beer drinkers to spill out front when the sun is shining. It was not like that when I visited in January, to shelter from the rain and to try out the 40 million record-selling artist’s fare.

The two-floor venue contains a bar and restaurant, as well as a brewery that can produce 7.5 hectoliters of beer at a time. The in-house brewery supplies the bar with completely fresh beer, as well as infusing the space with the comforting aroma of malt and hops. I appreciated dining beneath the large, chrome-brushed beer silos and the slightly dramatic towers of stacked potato sacks, which lent the place a feeling, even if the concept of an exposed, Pompidou Centre-style pub feels a little 2010s at this point.

Sadly, the menu doesn’t include any Astley-based Easter eggs (or at least not any I could find), but it does feature a wide range of delicious beers. A pint of Freshly Squeezed IPA for me, and Lucky Saint on draft for my Dry January friend, knocked us back £14.30 in total. Which is pretty much standard in this part of London.

Those with better knowledge of the Lancashire crooner’s back catalogue may be able to glean some hint of Astley in the current drinks list, which includes: Grand, Market Best, Never Enough, Jerry the Berry, Grandma’s Fridge Cake, DDH PCP, Market Weiss, Wonky Chi, Mic Drop, Common Ground, Black Pearl, Beech Life and The Golden Rule. What was conspicuously absent was the singer’s own brew, ginger-infused lager Astley’s Northern Hop.

There is not a huge amount in Astley’s working life beyond music – which includes providing a voice for The LEGO Batman Movie, as a fundraiser for cancer charity Maggie’s Centers and driving for his dad’s market-gardening business – to suggest he’d gone into the chicken and chips business. Or that he’d do it so well.

But both happen to be true. Mikkeller’s food is delicious and good value.

Three of us ate for £55 and left feeling stuffed and satisfied. This is more than I can say for my trip to James Blunt’s pub early in January, when the eye-watering prices meant I chose my bank balance over satiation. For that price in Astley’s place, we got two portions of crinkle cut fries, crispy plant nuggets, a vegan fried chick’n sandwich, and two meaty chicken sandos.

Both types of sandwich were made on a bed of brioche ‘Texas toast’ and stuffed alongside ‘Comeback Sauce’, pickles and vinegar slaw. Clearly, Mikkeller has embraced the latest advances in fake meat production technology as the chick’n had all the crisp, bounce, and tenderness you can hope for from something that has spent no time in a coop. The chicken version was similarly “excellent”, my companions informed me. Other menu options include chicken parm, Caesar salad, and fried chicken strips.

Mikkeller is unlikely to win any awards for restaurant innovation anytime soon. It’s a place that, stylistically, has more in common with Five Guys and Brew Dog than one of the cosy celebrity-owned pubs mentioned above. But what it is, is a spacious, fairly central London brewpub with a great, reasonably priced menu that’s perfect for a spot of Saturday afternoon indulgence.