Hamlet 2025 Review: Riz Ahmed Leads a Modern Take with Spall and Malik

Introduction Hamlet 2025 (Warning Contains Spoilers)

Hamlet 2025 film attempts a bold reinterpretation of one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays. Directed by Aneil Karia and starring Riz Ahmed, the film moves the classic tragedy into a modern London setting while keeping much of Shakespeare’s original dialogue.

I felt the film reimagines the story within a contemporary environment and focuses on a wealthy South Asian family facing betrayal, grief, and revenge. Overall, the attempt feels ambitious, yet uneven at times.

Having watched the film, I realized that there were some choices which proved successful on one hand and were distracting on the other. It is apparent from the film that the creators of the work have a lot of respect for Shakespeare’s work; however, they wish to present a modern tale simultaneously. To me, this combination is not always effective.

The director’s approach

The director Anieil Karia employs an earthy and personal style of directing for the whole film. He does not go for flashy scenes but rather focuses on the psychological state of the characters and creates emotional conflict in many scenes by focusing on silence. This kind of approach seemed to suit well when depicting Hamlet’s state of mind.

Therefore, it tends to be more of a character study than a conventional adaptation of Shakespeare’s play. Yet, such caution also means that the movie lacks pace. Personally, I find that the narrative does not build up fast enough as it seems like it takes ages to establish its mood.

Riz Ahmed’s performance

In my view, the best acting in the movie is done by Riz Ahmed. He performs Hamlet with an intensity that is different from that used in theatre. Ahmed emphasizes the inner struggle in Hamlet rather than using many words. His acting appears to be controlled.

For me, this is because his method allows us to relate to Hamlet as a character. In complicated exchanges, Ahmed shows the character’s sorrow and rage. For this reason, he becomes the emotional focus of the play.

Supporting performances

The supporting cast enhances the film’s emotional depth. Morfydd Clark delivers a vulnerable and sensitive portrayal of Ophelia. Her scenes emphasize fragility, which highlights her tragic situation.

Meanwhile, Joe Alwyn portrays Laertes with increased vigor and a straightforward manner. He has a style that is in direct contrast to Hamlet’s introspective nature. This makes the scenes vibrant. From my point of view, the performances are effective in maintaining tension, especially when there are slower scenes.

Additionally, Timothy Spall shines as Polonius, bringing a mix of drama and gravitas. I found his performance adds depth to the family dynamics and highlights Hamlet’s conflicts with authority.

Art Malik portrays Claudius as complex and sophisticated. The modern portrayal of Claudius is very appropriate, demonstrating his ambition and lack of morals. According to me, the old actors have brought stability and strength to the plot with their performance.

Themes and modern execution

One element worth mentioning is that the themes are transferred to the modern era in this adaptation. Grief, revenge, deception, and lack of morality all play an important role in this movie. For instance, I thought Hamlet’s feelings were conveyed well, particularly due to Ahmed’s portrayal.

The theme of corruption is also easy to adapt into the story. The use of a modern-day setting with a family and business environment brings out themes of ambition and ethical compromises. As a result, the issues seem pertinent in our society.

Identity and alienation are especially highlighted in this new modern adaptation. The fact that Hamlet belongs to a rich South Asian family contributes to his dilemma regarding identity and accountability. Personally, I think that this element of the story can be justified in light of Shakespeare’s original theme of individual struggle.

Sometimes, however, maintaining the language of Shakespeare diminishes the effectiveness of these themes. The use of Elizabethan English in contemporary settings is sometimes incongruous, making it more difficult for me to connect emotionally.

Using Shakespeare’s language in a modern setting

Dialogue was perhaps the most difficult aspect of this film. Listening to Elizabethan language spoken in today’s world was often disconcerting. It distracted me and took me out of the movie at times.

Rather than analyzing Hamlet’s sorrow or moral conflicts, I occasionally paid attention to comprehending the words. Though I admire the boldness of the directors in their approach, modernity and Shakespearean English don’t necessarily go together. It is my belief that this approach hinders emotional involvement during some significant moments.

Pacing and story progression

The movie’s pace is inconsistent from beginning to end. The first part is slow-paced and focuses on creating atmosphere and establishing the internal struggle of Hamlet. Although this is an important aspect of the plot, there have been occasions when I felt that it was dragging.

But when the tension increases and conflicts arise, the movie becomes very interesting. The latter scenes have an urgent tone, and at last, everything becomes really dramatic. On the other hand, the beginning might be a bit boring.

Final thoughts

On the whole, Hamlet is a creative and reflective adaptation of a timeless story for a contemporary audience. To begin with, I think that the most interesting parts of this movie can be attributed to the acting of Riz Ahmed. This particular performance contributes significantly to the development of emotional colorfulness and authenticity of the character. Other actors of the play such as Morfydd Clark, Joe Alwyn, Timothy Spall, and Art Malik make an important contribution to the narrative.

On the other hand, the amalgamation of Shakespearean language and modern day setting does not always mesh well. There are moments where the pace is slow, particularly in the beginning. Nonetheless, the movie keeps you intrigued in an attempt to provide a new angle to an age-old story. From my point of view, the movie brings out the feeling of Hamlet in a new light.