The Secret Garden

Despite some emotionally mature themes and a decent sense of atmosphere, 'The Secret Garden (2020)' feels relatively uninspired and lifeless. It isn't particularly engaging and its protagonist is somewhat abrasive (abrasive by design but abrasive nevertheless). It does have some strong set-design; the eponymous garden is lavish and bright, contrasting nicely with the drab yet grand mansion that acts as its counterpoint. The performances are all decent (although the main male character is actually rather annoying) and the ending does a good job of tying all the subtext together. It's not a terrible experience, but it isn't exactly good, either. It just sort of unfolds in front of you, only occasionally getting you involved with its narrative. It's just about passable, but I wouldn't really recommend it. 4/10