Shirley (2020)

Manuel São Bento June 1, 2020

★ 8/10

If you enjoy reading my Spoiler-Free reviews, please follow my blog @ https://www.msbreviews.com This was a pretty unusual experience due to the knowledge I possessed before watching this movie. It's the first flick I see from Josephine Decker. Sarah Gubbins has her feature film debut as a screenwriter, so obviously, she's new to me as well. However, the most significant detail is that I didn't know a single thing about Shirley. I had no idea about its plot or even what genre did it belong to, and (like with every other movie) I didn't watch a single trailer. Elisabeth Moss (The Handmaid's Tale, The Invisible Man) was the only reason I added this film to my list a few months ago. I had no idea Shirley was an actual biopic of the real-life horror writer, Shirley Jackson, not even by the end of the movie... and this is the biggest compliment I have to give. It doesn't feel like a bi…

SWITCH. July 22, 2020

★ 8/10

My expectations for 'Shirley' were probably as high as for any film this year, and those expectations were well-invested. Josephine Decker has delivered a film far better than any biopic could have been. Not only does it celebrate everything incredible about Shirley Jackson's work, it amplifies our understanding of it and why it continues to haunt us, whisper to us, send shivers down the back of our necks. 'Shirley' is an unsettling portrait of the existential and primal horror of the suburban prison women are forced into, guarded by monstrous men demanding they play by the rules and willing to discard and destroy when their use is past or they have sucked them dry of everything they need for them, a prison where madness is not just damnation but possible liberation. It is pure Shirley Jackson and yet entirely a work of its own, with its own unique power and voice. 'Shirley' is one of th…

Alunauwie September 22, 2025

★ 10/10

Shirley is a fictionalized psychological drama inspired by the life of author Shirley Jackson, blurring fact and fiction in a way that may misrepresent the real figures involved. Despite historical inaccuracies and concerns from Jackson’s family, the film stands out for its strong performances and intense character portrayals. The ambiguous ending invites viewers to interpret the story on their own, reflecting the film's deeper themes of creativity, identity, and madness. Read the full review here: (Indonesian version : alunauwie.com)