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.

After watching the film, I noticed some creative decisions worked well, while others distracted me. The filmmakers clearly respect Shakespeare’s language, yet they also aim to tell a story that feels modern. In my opinion, the balance between old and new succeeds only in certain moments. Sometimes, the choices create tension, but other times they feel mismatched.

The director’s approach

Aneil Karia uses a grounded and intimate directing style throughout the film. Instead of prioritizing spectacle, he emphasizes character psychology and emotional tension. Many scenes rely on quiet moments and close framing, which highlight the characters’ inner struggles. I felt this approach works well when exploring Hamlet’s grief and moral uncertainty.

Consequently, the film often feels like a character study rather than a traditional Shakespeare adaptation. However, this restrained approach also slows the pacing. For me, the story takes time to gain momentum because the director spends so long establishing atmosphere and emotional weight.

Riz Ahmed’s performance

In my opinion, Riz Ahmed gives the strongest performance in the film. He plays Hamlet with quiet intensity, which contrasts with theatrical interpretations. Ahmed focuses on Hamlet’s internal conflict rather than large speeches. His performance feels subtle and controlled, using facial expressions, pauses, and restrained emotion.

I found this approach makes Hamlet feel human and relatable. Even during complex dialogue, Ahmed communicates the character’s grief and anger clearly. Therefore, he becomes the emotional centre of the story, holding the audience’s attention through every scene.

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 sharper energy and a more direct approach. His style contrasts Hamlet’s introspective personality. As a result, the interactions feel dynamic. In my opinion, these performances maintain dramatic tension, particularly during slower sequences, and help balance the emotional weight across the story.

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 cunning and layered. His modern interpretation of the king feels relevant, showing ambition and moral compromise. In my opinion, these veteran actors anchor the story and make the political and familial conflicts more compelling.

Themes and modern execution

One notable aspect of this adaptation is how it translates Shakespeare’s themes into modern times. Grief, revenge, betrayal, and moral uncertainty remain central to the story. I felt Hamlet’s emotional struggle appears effectively, especially through Ahmed’s nuanced performance.

The theme of corruption also adapts well. Instead of a medieval court, the film uses a contemporary family and business setting, which shows ambition, power struggles, and moral compromise. Consequently, these ideas feel relevant to today’s world.

Identity and alienation receive extra emphasis in this modern version. Hamlet’s position in a wealthy South Asian family adds layers to his internal questioning of self and responsibility. I believe this addition fits Shakespeare’s original focus on personal conflict, even if it is not explicitly in the text.

However, retaining Shakespeare’s language sometimes reduces the impact of these themes. Elizabethan phrasing in modern settings occasionally feels mismatched, which makes it harder for me to fully feel the intended resonance.

Using Shakespeare’s language in a modern setting

The dialogue presents one of the film’s biggest challenges. Hearing Elizabethan phrasing in contemporary environments sometimes felt jarring. I found it distracting and occasionally pulled me out of the story.

Instead of focusing on Hamlet’s grief or moral dilemmas, I sometimes concentrated on understanding the words. While I admire the filmmakers’ ambition, the modern world and old language do not always blend smoothly. In my opinion, this choice limits emotional immersion during key scenes.

Pacing and story progression

The pacing is uneven throughout the film. The first half builds atmosphere and explores Hamlet’s internal conflict slowly. While this development gives depth, I sometimes found it stretched the story. The narrative does not pick up until after the midpoint.

Once the tension rises and conflicts escalate, the film becomes far more engaging. The later sequences carry urgency, and the drama finally feels intense. However, the slow start may test patience for some viewers.

Final thoughts

Overall, Hamlet (2025 film) is an ambitious and thoughtful attempt to reinterpret a classic story for a modern audience. In my opinion, Riz Ahmed’s performance gives the film its strongest moments. His portrayal adds emotional depth and makes Hamlet feel real and relatable. The supporting cast, including Morfydd Clark, Joe Alwyn, Timothy Spall, and Art Malik, further strengthens the story. The modernized themes of grief, betrayal, corruption, and identity translate well.

At the same time, the combination of Shakespeare’s dialogue and contemporary settings does not always work seamlessly. The pacing drags in places, especially in the first half. Even so, the film remains compelling, offering a fresh perspective on a centuries-old story. In my opinion, it highlights Hamlet’s emotional depth while showing that Shakespeare’s themes remain relevant today.