kristen stewart delivers the best performance of 2021 as a princess diana that slowly metamorphosizes from a raw nerve exposed and everyone is just prodding at it to a liberated woman, free from her cage. spencer is also fearlessly directed and beautifully scored, but stewart absolutely grabs your attention and doesn't let go.

due to the strength of stewart's performance and some artistic flourishes from director pablo larraín, sections of, and really the first half of spencer feel like a horror movie, especially the first dinner scene. it feels just as suffocating as anything from rachel getting married, which i can't help feel this takes some inspiration from.

spencer is a fully engrossing experience and features a generational performance from kristen stewart. compelling familial politics, an expertly written script, impressive direction, and it's probably my my favorite of the year.