Review 650: The Essex Serpent

Based on the novel The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry; London widow Cora Seaborne (Claire Danes) moves to Essex to investigate reports of a mythical serpent. She also forms a suprising bond of science and skepticism with local pastor Will Ransom (Tom Hiddleston), but when tradgedy strikes, the locals accuse her of attracting the creature.

It's this debate between science and faith that fuels much of the dramatic tension between them. That constrat between Cora and Will is very gripping and  Cora is a woman of science but thinks that a serprent maybe lurking in the marshy waters whereas Will, a man of faith, doesn't believe such a creature exists. He refers to it as an "invention" that is simply "a symptom of the times we live in"

Director Clio Bernard's direction is  the score by Dustin O'Halloran & Herdis Stefansdottir is haunting and evocative, the cinematography is

Claire Danes and Tom Hiddleston are both charasmatic actors who both shine in their roles. They transcend the modern dialogue with the crackling chemistry and  I don't expect the The Essex Serpent to but I'm happy to see Hiddleston and Danes leave the MCU and Homeland behind them.

Cora is recently widowed from a very unhappy marriage and is now released into the world

Clémence Poésy

Hayley Squires also makes a very noteworthy and likeable impression playing Martha, Cora's maid and companion.