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 enabled Kathleen Turner to transform deceit and manipulation into an art form.

Magpie is a great showcase of Daisy Ridley's acting chops. She shows here that she can tackle a serious and complicated role outside of the Star Wars universe. The movie's premise is about a family's young daughter who is an actress who is starring along side a very popular actresss. The husband of the family starts to be infatuated with the actress and descends with being unfaithful to his wife who is played by Daisy Ridley. There is a little bit of cat and mouse game that is played here to effect and it's a slow burn. Magpie might not be for everyone who is looking for a fast paced thriller. Magpie gets a solid 7 stars out of 10 from me.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Thank you Daisy for the original idea.

As a lonely housewife myself who has been cheated on and given up my own life for my husband, I really related to this movie. Daisy managed to capture anxiety, depression, PTSD and spite all in one character. I've been her and I know how awful it is and how manic you feel.

You're never totally sure if you should pity Annette or root for or be disgusted by her, until the end. At first it's not entirely obvious that the story is even about her. The portrayal of her husband is properly fleshed out and amazingly nuanced considering what sort of characters men are given these days. They are often too simplistic and vapid. This movie did a pretty good job of writing believable people while entertaining and surprising me. I almost felt as though whoever wrote the ending took a piece of my life and put it into a movie. We're not crazy, we're just reviving ourselves.

More movies like this, please.

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.

This movie was okay, but definitely not Daisy's best. The film follows Annette, a woman who appears to be suffering from postpartum depression. When her daughter gets a role in a movie, Annette is left home with the baby while her husband Ben takes her to the set. On set, Ben meets Alice, a famous actor, and quickly finds himself falling for her, only for Annette's mental health to continue to spiral.

Overall, it was an entertaining enough movie. The script definitely needed a little more work. None of the characters are particularly likable. However, Annette does get some sympathy points for her husband wanting to cheat on her because she is sad. Daisy does an excellent job of being the unhinged, crazy, suspicious wife. I think they could have explored her character a bit more. It's also like they couldn't decide if they wanted Annette to be the villain or not. The ending was also pretty predictable. However, they did a couple of things to throw the viewer off, making some plot holes when you stop to think about it. If I had to summarize it, it feels like something is missing somewhere. If you're looking for Daisy Ridley movies, I'd recommend Young Woman and the Sea or The Marsh King's Daughter first. However, if you've seen those, this wasn't bad; it just felt incomplete.

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.

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.

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.

As "Magpie" (2024 release from the UK; 90 min.) opens, a young girl named Mathilda (or Tilly) passes a film screening and is cast in a movie, playing the young daughter in a costume drama. The mother's role in the movie is played by a well-known and somewhat controversial actress. Mathilda's set chaperone is her dad, and it's not before long that he is smitten by the controversial actress... At this point we are 10 minutes into the movie.

Couple of comments: this is the latest from British director Sam Yates, best known for his theater work. Here he brings a British marriage mystery thriller with a no-names British cast. The entire movie pivots on a couple of plot twists, which of course I'm not going to spoil. Even though the movie lasts only 90 minutes, it takes quite a while to really get going. But the last 15 minutes or thereabouts are a lot of fun and make up for the slow start.

"Magpie" premiered at the 2024 SXSW film festival and had a short US theatrical run later that year. It is now streaming on Hulu where I caught it just the other night. The movie is currently rated 83% Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, which seems quite generous to me. If you are in the mood for a British marriage-gone-wrong thriller, I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.

This was a terribly boring and disappointing film. If the goal was to create a portrayal of less than mediocre men gaslighting their wives, only to end in a very predictable "twist" or "climax," mission accomplished. There is no protagonist to root for in this film; the characters are weak and the plot is bland. It's disappointing to see otherwise talented actors in such a poor, obvious film. Skip it, do something better with your time. I kept on waiting for this film to improve... It never did :( I don't know if I can fathom a care to meet the word requirement - but there - I think I did it!!

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.

I'm a little thrown by some of the other reviews here... many reviewers suggest that Daisy's character (Annette) really IS imbalanced or suffering from post-partum depression. I'm not sure that's the case. I towel she's just trapped in a remote hell with a jerk of a man, kids she gets no help with, and has an overwhelming need to rejoin life and the workplace. Her husband implied (to his new crush) that she's mentally unstable, but I think by the end we see that she is quite capable.

The film is a little slow and meandering... with about 20 minutes left, I was wondering how they were going to wrap it up... then came the shocking ending that most people praise (and some claim they "saw coming" - not sure how). After we learn the truth, and we see the whole story in a new light via flashbacks, we are satisfied with the entire film. Yeah, there are some plot holes, but overall it was a well-conceived story, nicely presented, with competent acting. Daisy Ridley conceived the idea for the film, and she's exceptional as the "prisoner of her own life" heroine. The rest of the cast is fine, the runtime is short, the visuals are appealing, and it was better than I expected. I'd be a "7.5" rounded up to an "8" for the innovative misdirection we are dealt and the shocking realization that not everything is as it seems. Worth a watch.

Annette (Ridley) left her career and life in the city to live in the English countryside with her husband Ben, and focus on being a mother to their daughter Tilly, and their infant son.

Ben is an author, and spends much of his time doing "research" for his books. He even left home to go on a research trip just after he & Annette's son was born. When he is home, he is often dismissive of or ignores Annette, and gaslights her often, that is until he needs her for something.

Matilda (their adorable little daughter) auditions for and lands a role in a movie, where she will be playing the daughter of an famous actress who has run into some slight controversy as of late. On the first day of filming, Ben takes Matilda to the set, and immediately becomes enamored by this leading lady, named Alicia. They strike up a quick friendship and begin exchanging texts.

At home with their son, Annette struggles with her feelings of being alone & isolated, and increasingly becomes paranoid that her husband is stepping out on her.

Now,, I'm not going to spoil anything here. I am going to say that I did not expect to enjoy this movie so much, but I really did. It's not exciting, nor is it fast-paced. It's a very slow burn, to the point that some might find it boring. However, I found it to be quite a captivating slow burn psychological thriller. It has a very minimal cast (barely a dozen or more), the 4 main characters being Annette, Ben, Alicia, and Tilly. The entire cast is great in their roles, however, I agree with what the trailer said. Ridley is very well at her finest (so far) in this.

As I said, this may not be everyone's cup of tea. However, I'd give it a 6.5 rating at the very least.

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.

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.

It was a great idea but the director just wasn't that great of a storyteller. For instance, I knew very early what was coming and I usually try not to get caught up in outsmarting the film. In the hands of The Coen Brothers, this probably would have been a masterpiece. As it was, I still had a fun time going for the ride. It stays very engaging, it's well acted, the music is well placed, and the payoff is still very satisfactory even if you catch on early.

I also didn't know any of the performers before watching this so it was cool to get exposed to new artists. Very above average popcorn movie.