Mary Reilly

An engrossing examination of the elemental forces that define human nature.

Mary Reilly is a thinking person's horror movie, done with such obvious intelligence and artistry that it feels strange to watch it and be so unmoved. [23 Feb 1996]

Too bad the overreaching script has to go after effects recalling "Alien," but as a stylistic exercise this still has its chills.

Relentlessly gray and paralyzed by narrative inertia, it collapses under the weight of its stars.

The film's chief novelty turns out to be its drab ''literary'' approach to horror.

With the exception of a couple of inspired moments, Mary Reilly is merely a curious variation of an often-told story.

Mary Reilly has the distinction of being the most pretentious, the most ponderous, the most utterly suspenseless. [23 Feb 1996]