Mary Reilly
TriStar Pictures | Release Date: February 23, 1996 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
44
METASCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 20 Critic Reviews
Positive:
4
Mixed:
11
Negative:
5
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
88
ReelViewsJames Berardinelli
An engrossing examination of the elemental forces that define human nature. Read full review
75
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
Works as Gothic melodrama because it understands the genre so well. Read full review
70
Washington PostRita Kempley
Adapted from Valerie Martin's psychosexual novel, this maudlin film transforms the legend of Jekyll and Hyde into a talky romantic love triangle. [23 Feb 1996]
63
Chicago TribuneMichael Wilmington
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]
60
Chicago ReaderJonathan Rosenbaum
Too bad the overreaching script has to go after effects recalling "Alien," but as a stylistic exercise this still has its chills. Read full review
60
EmpireKim Newman
This isn't afraid to be a horror movie. Read full review
60
The New York TimesJanet Maslin
A gloomy film with a story whose outcome... is an especially foregone conclusion. Read full review
50
Los Angeles TimesKenneth Turan
There is nothing to be embarrassed about here, neither is there much to relish, for Mary Reilly has more of the sheen of art than its essence. Read full review
50
San Francisco ChroniclePeter Stack
The film is too mannered, too stuffy. Even Malkovich's interesting performance won't let it break free of a formal style and cloyingly creepy tone that becomes precious while trying to be merely claustrophobic. Read full review
50
TV Guide MagazineStaff (Not Credited)
Relentlessly gray and paralyzed by narrative inertia, it collapses under the weight of its stars. Read full review
50
VarietyGodfrey Cheshire
[A] muddled mix of melodrama and horror. Read full review
50
Portland OregonianTim Appelo
Mary Reilly tries, but fails, to revive the oft-told Jekyll and Hyde horror story. [23 Feb 1996]
50
USA TodayMike Clark
Mary Reilly, a perversely courageous disaster that audiences will simply hate. [23 Feb 1996]
42
Entertainment WeeklyOwen Gleiberman
The film's chief novelty turns out to be its drab ''literary'' approach to horror. Read full review
40
Austin ChronicleMarc Savlov
A gothic little slip of a film, beautiful to behold but with less substance than the shadowy tendrils of fog that blanket nearly every scene. Read full review
30
Wall Street JournalJoe Morgenstern
Since Mary rarely gets to see any of the good stuff, neither do we; Dr. Jekyll hides most of his switcheroos behind closed doors. [23 Feb 1996]
25
Christian Science MonitorDavid Sterritt
Philippe Rousselot's carefully shaded cinematography looks great, but the screenplay is pretentious and there's little to applaud in the top-heavy acting by John Malkovich and Julia Roberts. Read full review
25
San Francisco ExaminerWalter Addiego
With the exception of a couple of inspired moments, Mary Reilly is merely a curious variation of an often-told story. Read full review
12
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Liam Lacey
Mary Reilly comes across as too much brooding atmosphere and too little story. [23 Feb 1996]
0
Seattle Post-IntelligencerWilliam Arnold
Mary Reilly has the distinction of being the most pretentious, the most ponderous, the most utterly suspenseless. [23 Feb 1996]
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