Metacritic reviews

An engrossing examination of the elemental forces that define human nature.

Works as Gothic melodrama because it understands the genre so well.

Too bad the overreaching script has to go after effects recalling "Alien," but as a stylistic exercise this still has its chills.

This isn't afraid to be a horror movie.

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.

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.

The film's chief novelty turns out to be its drab ''literary'' approach to horror.

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.

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.

With the exception of a couple of inspired moments, Mary Reilly is merely a curious variation of an often-told story.