User reviews

Living in a sumptuous modern country house, successful but blocked Anglo-Pakistani author Ben is stuck in a dour marriage to Annette. This state of affairs is telegraphed from the outset, with much of the marital discontent Ben's own fault. He is clearly bored by his unhappy spouse, while Annette is suppressing anger over Ben's condescending attitude and lack of support after she gave up her career to raise their two children. The eldest is 6YO Mathilda, who has been cast in a film as the daughter of its principal character. As Ben escorts Matilda to the set each day, he becomes attracted to lead actress Alicia, and Annette soon becomes suspicious.

Deeper discord becomes apparent as jealousy grows, leaving one wondering why the couple doesn't just call time on their dismal union. Meanwhile the narrative settles into a creative rut with all three main characters depicted as deceitful, manipulative and fairly unlikable. The story trots along an unexceptional path until it arrives at the surprise twist and melodramatic climax which is obligatory for this movie genre. The project may well be commercially successful, but thirty seconds of reflection after the end titles will have many shaking their heads at the characters' shallowness and the plot's implausibility. The acting is decent, but the screenplay's deficiencies leave one yearning for the richness of a classic like 'Body Heat' which transformed deceit and manipulation into an art form.

Rating: 7.6 Overall, a pretty good psychological thriller that is laid out well and shows the impact jealousy has on family dynamics/relationships, all lead by a good performance from Daisy Ridley and a well-executed climax.

Pretty Good Direction (The direction on a macroscale is good as he does a good job in laying out the conflict and planting the horror/thriller roots throughout the movie; the direction on a microscale is pretty good to good as the interpersonal scenes are where you really see the family dynamic and the relationships between the characters; the storytelling is good as you're really interested in what will happen next as they slowly unravel the conflict; the tension is built well as it keeps the audience engaged (especially towards the climax)), Pretty Good Acting (Good from Daisy Ridley (Really shows a full range of emotions and a lot of charisma in the lead role), Pretty Good from Shazad Latif (Plays well off of Ridley, but is a little too overt as the villain (still pretty good though)), Decent from Matilda Lutz (Shows some separation from the main two but holds her own enough), Decent to Pretty Good from the rest of the cast (everyone plays their role well, but it's really about the main three characters)), Pretty Good to Good Story (The concept is pretty interesting as it ties horror concepts around family dynamics and relationships; the plot structure is laid out well; the flow between sequences is good; the character writing is pretty good as you really get a sense of who Daisy Ridley's character is, but the rest are a bit overt), Pretty Good Screenplay (The dialogue is pretty good (some amateur lines); the symbolism is decently prevalent as the movie is centered around the family dynamic while also tackling mental illness; the foreshadowing is very good as it's a key element in telling the story), Pretty Good Score (Helped with establishing the tone), Pretty Good Cinematography (A lot of well-executed shots to create tension and build the seclusion of the world (especially when dealing with reflection)), Decent Editing, Pretty Good Sound (Helped with establishing tension), , Pacing is good as the movie felt like the right pace, Climax is well executed as they display what they were trying to build for the entire movie, Tone is very similar to other psychological thrillers, Saw the World Premiere at SXSW.

The first half of the film is more of a character study, about a profoundly unhappy and lonely housewife, Anette, who soon finds out her husband, Ben, may be having an affair with a famous actress, Alicia. The second half of the film is more of a thriller where we see the tempo begin to pick up and the wheels begin turning in Anette's head.

The film is a true slow burn: at first chilly and frigid, then warm and bubbling, then explosive in its final act. It's gripping, engrossing, and tense throughout. It's anchored by a fantastic performance by Daisy Ridley. She's a true revelation. Her quiet moments of festering anger are wrenching. There's a symbolic scene where we see her crack a mirror after pushing into it for a few moments that symbolizes their shattering marriage. Shazad Latif is also good here.

The film does have some mediocre aspects. The trailer is quite misleading. It can drag and get a tad tedious at times. The ending may be cathartic and rewarding for some viewers, while mediocre for other viewers. Hiba Ahmed as Matilda, the daughter, is just okay, though child performances in film are often not very good. She felt more like a prop than a character. And Matilda Lutz, while really beautiful and charming and convincing as a movie star in the context of the film, was just alright. Perhaps it's because Lutz is Italian that many of her lines sounded odd or stilted.

If you like thrillers with strong acting, especially ones involving female rage, eroticism, and infidelity, this will be up your alley.

Not everything (technically) adds up in this taut 90-minute infidelity thriller, but I'm really liking the dramatic roles that Daisy Ridley has been taking up recently. This is written by her spouse Tom Bateman, and plays out much like any married-relationship-turned-bitter thriller even though its setup looks fairly unique. But I have questions (burning ones, in fact). Asking them would resort to giving away spoilers, so I'll refrain. Sam Yates gives it the neo-noir treatment, simultaneously taking advantage of Ridley's strong points.

The final twist looks satisfying on paper (and momentarily on screen too), though the feasibility of it is somewhat questionable. The male lead also comes across as a permanently rude and uncaring "human", let alone a partner or a parent. Since the film wants to get to the point quickly, there's a definite lack of texture to everyone except for Ridley's character-the actor once again aces her role. Nonetheless, Magpie is one of those films that offers instant gratification, even if you may forget it soonafter.

Daisy Ridley gradually becoming one of my top favorite actresses for real. If there's one line I can use to summarize this movie it's "fear the silent ones". If you've watched the movie, that might sound like am against the lady but that's far from it. I was very very much glad with the turn out of events in this movie.

The build up, as annoying so it was, was perfectly set up for the plot twist. I didn't see that coming at all. All along I was thinking Alicia was in on the affair, I couldn't be further from the truth. I won't lie, I almost ended the movie a few times because it dragged on abit, but am glad I didn't and stuck it out to the very end.

I just finished watching this and it kept my interest. You sort of new there was a build up in this movie but the writers kept it hidden pretty good. Since you were always waiting for the climax this thriller did its job pretty good. It does play to certain stereotypes of husbands and wife's. It is a bit unusual to see a movie breaking out of the liberal movement of 2024.

This is a great couples movie and it does not disappoint. Definitely a conversation starter after watching this. Which the junkyard of movies coming out of Hollywood this one is brave enough to go out into left field. Put this movie near the top of your list.

By far the best aspect of taut little British psychological drama "Magpie" is its cracking lead performance from Daisy Ridley as a doormat wife trampled on by narcissist hubbie Shazad Latif as she edges towards insanity in their beautiful yet remote country home. Things come to a head when young daughter Hiba Ahmed is cast in a film shooting nearby, where Latif gets drawn to captivating lead actress Matilda Lutz (rising star)... but how will Ridley react? Sam Yates' direction's fine, Tom Bateman's debut screenplay's neat enough (albeit with holes), and the support cast's solid - but the big fish here is unquestionably Ridley. A terrific actress, so strong again.

Just finished watching Magpie (2024) and I am really confused by the positive reception for this movie because I didn't like it.

Positives for Magpie (2024): The performances from Daisy Ridley, Shazad Latif and Matilda Lutz are very good in the movie. The movie is shot well. I like the ending of the movie, but it is for all the wrong reasons.

Negatives for Magpie (2024): The movie was a slog to get through and while I understand that it's suppose to be a slow burn except nothing was happening in the movie. I also failed to understand what the purpose of this movie was and while someone might tell about what happened, I didn't get any of that from this movie. And finally, the plot twist of the movie was very dumb.

Overall, Magpie (2024) was a boring slog for me and while there were a lot of people who enjoyed it, I certainly didn't get any of it.

This film centres on married couple Annette (Daisy Ridley) and Ben (Shazad Latif), whose daughter Matilda (Hiba Ahmed) is cast alongside a glamorous movie star, Alicia Romano (Matilda Lutz). As the days go by Annette's suspicions are raised about the relationship between Ben and Alicia, and as Ben's relationship with with Alicia becomes deeper and deeper, Annette can't follow what is happening as Ben has begun locking his phone. But perhaps Annette is more devious than Ben realises... This is a really nicely done thriller. I'm not a great fan of Ridley, but she plays the sidelined wife really well and I truly felt her pain as her husband's relationship with the actress developed. There was something slightly off right from the start, but of all the things it could have been, I never once suspected what it really was. It's not until the end scenes that we get the full picture but no spoilers here, I want you to enjoy the ride!

The music was odd at times, the score was very rasping and didn't always fit the scene. There were some mildly silly plot points but nothing to spoil the film at all. I was saddened by yet another DEI casting. It seems like we must have an interracial relationship in every film we see these days, a far greater proportion than exists in real life, which means I can't always relate well to the cast. However Latif puts in a good performance and I always felt there was a brooding menace from him, which helped the tension throughout. All in all it's not a groundbreaking film but it's certainly a worthwhile thriller that everyone will enjoy, not just misandrists. I rated it a healthy 6.

The first half of the movie is fairly well set up. Characters are reasonably well defined and their goals are defined, however, in Daisy Ridley's case, they are defined in terms of mental illness, job and motherhood and then totally forgotten about.

Are we to believe that a woman on the verge of a nervous breakdown suddenly becomes the calculating manipulative character she becomes? Not likely.

The second half of the movie descends into contrivance and convenience in order to have the modern day boss babe for 'modern audiences'.

The ending, it has to be said, is dreadfully signposted miles before the ending. This is not the gotcha the inexperienced writer and director thought it was.

Such a simple story written and directed so masterfully. The cast is also perfect! I won't spoil anything, but if you like movies like First Reformed, this is definitely for you.

I know it's been said that movies have become the same but that's just because (unfortunately) gems like this don't get enough advertising. If this was released in the 2000's it would be a cult classic. I don't really have anything to add (especially because I don't want to ruin anything) but I'm supposed to write for 150 more characters so I just wanted to thank the director and writer for such a fun and engaging time.

This is essentially a chamber piece with an intriguing narrative and powerful performances from the lead actors. The script needed some tweaking and may have benefited from more preproduction feedback, and the end of the second act got a little off in the pacing. The score was quite good, and Ridley is at her finest. The third act is tight, as is the beginning. The dialogue was the main issue in the film. There were several areas where the actor's expression said what was needed to convey the idea, but then the characters seemed compelled to speak, hence slowing the pace. It's was a good watch, though, and I recommend the film.

I kind of liked this film. Daisy Ridley of Star Wars fame stars as Annette, the wronged neglected wife of emerging author Ben. They have it all with a great house in the London suburbs and a newborn. Their other child is six. Matilda (Tilly) is costarring in a Victorian drama with Alicia. The film opens with her successful audition. Annette takes the newborn to a job interview, as her old boss wants her back at the publishing house. But the baby makes such a commotion that the scene is a disaster. So she's stuck home while hubby takes Tilly to set each day. Of course he and the leading lady, Tilly's stage stepmom, strike up an affair. It's a very devious, sinister triangle. Mom goes to great lengths to suss it all out. There's so much cell phone usage in the film it should have been done as an Apple+ film. I loved Ridley in Woman of the Sea. This is totally different. Like her less here. Now she uses her native British accent. Matilda Lutz is glamorous and sexy as Alicia. Shazad Latif is fine as the two timing villain. It's an okay way to spend ninety minutes, but not at all a film to seek out. Ridley and the writer are married, which was never mentioned at the Q&A both attended, so it was basically a package deal.

Ben (Shazad Latif) and Annette (Daisy Ridley) are a married couple whose life becomes problematic after their daughter's participation in a movie leads to controversial star Alicia (Matilda Lutz) becoming an important part of their lives.

Based on an original idea by Daisy Ridley, Magpie is directed by Sam Yates and written by Tom Bateman. The movie offers a polished cinematography with muted tones and locations that speak of tasteful visual choices, where the often close-up shots with the actors looking at the camera add to the dramatic expressiveness of the story.

And while at its core a marital thriller, it touches upon different thematically broad topics such as gender roles, parenthood, and adultery. Alicia is not only the star of the movie they are making; she is also at the core of their new family dynamics, where the past, like it happens in reality, differs according to who you listen to. Matilda Lutz brings unforeseen consequences that disrupt their seemingly idyllic life in the isolated modern house they inhabit.

Sam Yates's feature successfully portrays families as something far away from the idealized version people often have. In Magpie, families are nothing but sites of oppression limiting their members to fully realize their desires and be happy. It is a movie not only engaging but also profound in its treatment of psychological anxiety and how suffocating a marriage can be. If matrimony is a closed door offering its contract-bound members security as a mirage, then it is only natural that in such a suffocating space some will want to open the door.

The issue that I had with this movie is that it took far too long to really get going, and the first hour of the film was just a melodrama of a couple that were in a really bad, very unsatisfying, extremely unfulfilling marriage. The husband was a particularly dour and a highly indifferent personality, and he just played a very clueless man who had grown tired of the marriage a long time ago. He sort of gets involved with this actress on the set of a film that his daughter is starring in, and he desperately clings to the possibility that there might be something there as an alternative to his very unfulfilling life.

The problem was that it is a very difficult first hour to sit through, there really wasn't much going on, the young girl was absolutely adorable, Daisybwas excellent, but the infant was ridiculously annoying and they should have given you a little bit of a payoff earlier on. The ending was great, but it came far too late in the film.

Ben and Anette are in an unhappy marriage where they almost got separated. Their daughter Matilda is an child artist in movies and Ben chaperones her to the movie set while Anette looks after their newborn. The actress in the movie is the famous Alicia who has been in the news for the wrong reason. Ben gets attracted to Alicia and tries to get closer to her. It doesn't take too long for Anette to suspect Ben is slipping and she takes matters into her own hands to confront him. How does she do that or is she being paranoid for no reason, forms rest of the story.

I am torn between praising the writing for holding my attention for so long with the help of the performances and critiquing the very writing as it rests everything on that one simple twist in the tale. For what it's worth, all the actors performed really well to carry this story forward and barring that one simple big twist, the film has nothing else to offer to maintain the suspense. It's characters one toned and the writing doesn't want them to be layered which reflects on the screenplay too. I still lean towards not completely criticizing the plot and stay lenient in my rating.

My kinda movie - it looks and sounds superb, it's beautifully shot and it's expertly acted, especially by Daisy Ridley, who not only plays the lead character, but co-produced the film and had the original idea for it.

I'm not quite sure why it's called 'Magpie', nor why a crow flew into the window at one point, but there are echoes of Hitchcock in several scenes, and in the suspenseful orchestral discordances composed by Isobel Waller-Bridge.

It took me way too long to recognise the actor playing Ben was Shazad Latif of Clem Fandango fame He certainly made an excellently gullible villain. And I thought the final twist was excellently orchestrated and thoroughly satisfying.

So, I don't suppose this film is to everyone's taste, especially if you're looking for action and adventure, but I loved its intelligence and delivery.

Wife is stuck with husband, not the other way around. The daughter absolutely doesn't count cause she has no personality. The actress basically doesn't know what she wants and has no business with the couple and daughter in the first place. The events, logic of situations and the flow are pretty dismal. It is deemed as a thriller, though the most thrilling part are the wife's eyebrows and so it flows aimlessly until the super unrealistic ending and a pair of eyes looking at the middle of the screen.

• Screenplay/storyline/plots: 5
• Production value/impact: 4.5
• Development: 6.5
• Realism: 4
• Entertainment: 5.5
• Acting: 6.5
• Filming/photography/cinematography: 7
• VFX: 7
• Music/score/sound: 6
• Depth: 4.5
• Logic: 2.5
• Flow: 4
• Thriller/drama: 5.5
• Ending: 4.

Magpie could be my favorite film of the year. It's an absolutely merciless, perfectly scripted, acted, and directed revenge thriller focusing on a mother of two (Ridley) who's literally being driven insane by her husband (Shazad Latif), a washed up writer who's philandering is finally becoming more than evident.

Magpie was written by Ridley's husband, Tom Bateman, and it's obvious how much fun they had making this, given the sharpness of the performances all around and the intense, meticulous pace of the script and its reveals. It's one of those films that flies by, like a great roller coaster ride.

Much of this tension is generated from Ridley's performance, which is controlled to the point of snapping as Shazad Latif, playing the douche-bag pony-tailed loser hubby, pursues an actress who's working with his and Ridley's daughter on a period film set in the English countryside. It's hard to channel rage effectively without making it seem like an overreaction, and Ridley does this well, but also keeps us off-kilter as the details of her backstory don't come to light until the final act.

An extremely satisfying film, in a year filled with movies that sort of leave us hanging, which I usually don't mind. But in the case of Magpie, the level of tension it builds deserves a... smashing ending. You get that, and more.

Luckily a friend of mine recommended this movie to me. Since I've never heard of it before nor remember seeing a trailer of this movie prior. Heck I admit that I didn't even know what a magpie was. So I looked it up and found out that magpies are really smart birds that are colored black & white with a metallic green tail. The movie was really good, thrilling and very captivating. The movie plot centers around a couple Annette & Ben, who are far from perfect. Annette is a Mother of two children. Annette's little daughter is starring in a movie along with a fellow Italian actress: Alicia who's going to play her Mother in the movie they will both star in. Annette's spouse Ben has been enjoying accompanying his daughter to the studio to see the Italian actress Alicia and little by little develops a crush on her that turns into an obsession. Ben gets friendly to Alicia and forgets about his wife and children. As for Annette that is getting lonely in the house with just her baby always waiting for daughter & husband to return. Annette is feeling more frustrated and unease, as well realizing that Ben doesn't love her the same. Noticing little by little Ben doesn't even care about the family either and using their daughter to get closer to Alicia, but Annette isn't going to allow this to happen. Nor have Alicia to be Tilly's new Mom. So Annette gets Ben back really well and calculates her plan beautifully. I wont tell all her steps just so not to spoil the movie, but definitely worth watching. The performance were great by all the actresses/actors and the plot is very thrilling & intriguing.