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Black Bag is an enjoyably clever thriller that quietly asserts itself as a masterclass in understated excellence. Starring Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett, the film weaves its way through a tense, elegant narrative that never feels forced or overplayed.

Fassbender is magnetic as always, delivering a performance full of quiet intensity and nuance. Blanchett, meanwhile, is a study in controlled brilliance-layered, sharp, and emotionally resonant without ever needing to raise her voice. Together, they anchor the film with a chemistry that's subtle but charged.

The script is smart, avoiding the genre's usual clichés, and the direction mirrors that restraint-stylish but never showy. It's the kind of film that rewards attention, each scene brimming with purpose, each line more loaded than it first appears.

In a landscape of loud, twist-heavy thrillers, Black Bag stands out by doing less, and doing it better. A quietly confident triumph.

I went to see The Monkey purely because of its supposed link to Stephen King, expecting at least a thread of his trademark suspense or creeping horror. Unfortunately, that connection turned out to be incredibly weak - barely more than a name-drop.

There was no horror, no suspense, and certainly no tension to speak of. The camera work looked cheap, almost as if it was filmed on a shoestring with no sense of atmosphere or visual storytelling. The staging felt amateurish, flat and uninspired, and the pacing was all over the place - dragging in parts, rushing in others, with no sense of rhythm.

As for the acting... it genuinely felt like very poor amateur dramatics. Wooden delivery, overacting, and no real chemistry between the cast members made it impossible to care about any of the characters or their storylines.

All in all, The Monkey was a huge disappointment. If you're a Stephen King fan, don't be fooled by the association - there's nothing of his essence here. Give this one a miss.