A “thrilling” period drama on Netflix has fans saying amazing things, even though it goes largely overlooked by streamers. Netflix has a slew of period drama TV shows and movies on its platform, with stand-out hits including Bridgerton and The Queen’s Gambit. However, there are some excellent historical flicks that many fans haven’t seen, even though they have been praised by critics. One of those is The Wonder.
The Wonder was released in 2022 and stars Florence Pugh. It is one of the lesser-known roles in the Marvel star’s career, but she gives a stunning performance as she leads in this period piece. The Wonder is a Netflix original film and has an impressive Rotten Tomatoes score of 85 percent. People have called this movie a “must-see” with “amazing writing”. The Wonder is set in Ireland right after the Famine of the 1840s, known locally as The Great Hunger.
Pugh, known for her roles in Thunderbolts, Midsommer and Little Women, plays an English nurse who is sent to rural Ireland to examine a young girl who is claiming to live without food or water. In the tense psychological thriller, some local people believe that what is happening with the young girl is a miracle, but Pugh is sent to investigate.
Revelations come to light and viewers are taken on a film full of mysterious twists and turns. While it didn’t make much of a splash when it was first released, the hidden Netflix gem has fans raving about it.
Writing a review on movie site Rotten Tomatoes, one person said: “A must see! Had amazing writing and storyline that shows real history and connects to cultures. The lead actress plays this role amazingly!”
Another shared: “A thrilling exorcism of beliefs.” A third wrote: “It is a well-told story, far from the empty stories that we are always told every day. You can appreciate the layers of the characters and Pugh’s great artistic ability to make us experience these types of emotions.”
Another said: “I mean, it’s a Florence Pugh performance, it’s great no matter what. But the movie is also pretty awesome. Highly recommended.”
Some viewers called the movie “slow”, but the general sentiment amongst those who left reviews is positive. When it comes to critics, Netflix’s The Wonder is praised for Pugh’s performance and its writing.
One critic wrote: “It is a heavy film with tough questions, yet Florence Pugh is up for the challenge as always.” Another said: “Based on Emma Donoghue’s eponymous book, The Wonder is a beautiful yet disturbing psychological thriller with a stellar performance by Florence Pugh.”