Magpie (2024), Dir Sam Yates, Signature Entertainment,

4☆☆☆☆. Review: Matthew Alicoon.

Streaming – Thriller – Neo-Noir

Running Time: 90 Minutes

Available to rent on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Sky Story and other streaming services.

“A criminally underrated hidden gem of a thriller”.

Magpie follows the story of how Anette (Daisy Ridley) and Ben’s (Shazad Latif) lives are turned upside down, when their daughter (Hiba Ahmed) is cast alongside controversial actress Alicia (Matilda Lutz). Ben takes his daughter to work, however finds himself falling under Alicia’s charm.

The origins of how the story became conceptualised are utterly fascinating. In an interview with Collider, Daisy Ridley states how she came up with the idea, after working on The Marsh King’s Daughter. Daisy was working alongside young actress Joey Carson, who was with her father. It was screenwriter Tom Bateman’s idea, to make the drama centralised on the mother (Annette) and her perspective of being stuck at home, while the mystery is taking place.

Magpie is a cleverly conceived drama, that knows exactly what type of film it needs to be. Tom Bateman’s screenplay ingests a slow-burn tightness where you are never certain what path the film will lead you on. The atmospheric tension is unnervingly spellbinding, as there is toxicity broiling between Anette and Ben. However, you question where their conflicts have arisen in the past. Another looming question is why Ben feels so detached from his family. It is the expertly crafted imminent questions that Magpie a captivatingly convincing and persuasive watch. Sam Yates bring a sophisticated slickness to the direction, grounding the scenes realistically and never over dramatising critical moments.

Daisy Ridley gives an enigmatic yet perplexing performance, which works in the films favour. Her facial expressions divinely capture her true emotion, however the mystifying nature of what she is going to do next is strikingly portrayed. Ridley steals the film, as within her presence we can truly feel the extent of the problem Ben has caused. The film tackles female isolation and questionability brilliantly. Shazad Latif nails his character mannerisms of being detached and secluded from Annette. Matilda Lutz shines with showcasing the innocence. The collective performances, comprehensibly mask the bigger revelation of what is going on.

The film goes for a subversive technique of utilising exposition when characters text each other. As a plot device, this was an intuitive way to portray intimacy and connectivity. However, there is a slight over abundance on using the narrative tool. The lucrativeness of the tool is felt in particular moments, however overused at certain points. The final plot twist is an absolute showstopper, which feels necessary. It is a plot twist that would change the way you rewatch Magpie.

Magpie is a sleeper hit of a thriller with an enthralling performance from Daisy Ridley. It is so gratifying to see the trajectory of projects Daisy Ridley has taken on, post Star Wars. An absolute knockout of a plot twist too.

Do not miss this.

Cast

Daisy Ridley as Anette

Shazad Latif as Ben

Matilda Lutz as Alicia

Hiba Ahmed as Matilda

Cherrelle Skeete as Emily

Pippa Bennett-Warner as Esther

Alistair Petrie as Richard

Creatives

Director – Sam Yates

Screenwriter – Tom Bateman

Producers - Kate Solomon, Daisy Ridley, Tom Bateman, Camilla Bray, Nadia Khamlichi & Sierra Garcia

Cinematographer – Laura Bellingham

Editors – Christopher Watson

Music – Isobel Waller-Bridge