Dorian Gray (2009) ****

Oscar Wilde’s ‘The picture of Dorian Gray’ (1890) comes to life yet again in Technicolor, bringing forth the horrors of a corrupt mortal soul in a society governed by vanity, lust and greed. (Sound familiar?)


The movie tells the story of a young beautiful man Dorian Gray (Ben Barnes) whose life changes drastically on his arrival in Victorian London, where he has inherited an estate left to him by his deceased grandfather. Dorian’s relationship with his grandfather unfolds gradually through a series of flashbacks throughout the movie, reflecting the torment he had to face as a child and the ongoing inner conflict of morality vs. corruption as he is led into a world of debauchery under the guidance of Henry Wotton (Colin Firth), a calculating amoral man. Dorian meets Henry through Basil Hallward (Ben Chaplin) an artist who in his obsession with Dorian’s beauty paints his best work: a portrait of Dorian. Captivated by his own good looks Dorian’s wishes for eternal youth, agreeing to sell his soul to the devil for it, his wish is granted. While the world around him grows old he is eternally young, pursuing a life preached to him by Wotton ‘fulfillment of the senses’. Throughout his escapades of lust, violence and moral degradation Dorian remains youth full, while the portrait Basil painted disfigures, revealing the reality of his soul. The story comes to a climax when Dorian finally finds true love, Lady Victoria (Emilia Fox) daughter of Henry Wotton.

Directed by Oliver Parker, the movie will take you on a dark-gothic surreal journey, which will leave you questioning the reality that surrounds us and our obsession with vanity. It’s a brilliant take on the original whether you watch it purely for entertainment purposes or leave with a lesson or two in toe.

watch trailer HERE