Magpie

Noir is associated with the black and white hard-boiled detective and crime fiction of the 1940’s and 50’s set in bleak cityscapes. What occasionally gets overlooked is the paranoia, manipulation, and mind-games that many of those films incorporated.

Though pushing the term to its limits there’s definite noirish tone about Magpie. However it’s the psychological elements that Tom Bateman’s script, based on an idea developed with Daisy Ridley mine, and then very effectively implemented by director Sam Yates.

Ben (Shazad Latif) and Anette (Daisy Ridley) have moved out to the country so that he can concentrate on his writing. It’s not made clear, but he’s having problems with writer’s block, that after being away for eight months researching his new book.

What is a problem that becomes clear early on are the tensions in the marriage. Anette looking after their new-born son, Lucas. Then there is new pressure of young daughter Matilda (Hiba Ahmed) landing a role in a film starring major star Alicia (Matilda Lutz).

As a minor Matilda needs a guardian to which Ben volunteers. Once introduced to Alicia (to whom Matilda takes to), Ben is smitten and begins to obsess over her. All this as a mentally disintegrating Anette is trying to get her career back on track. A meeting with her employer is complicated by her having to take the baby.

Very tightly constructed Ben’s selfishness and then infatuation with Alicia is the fulcrum of the film from that stems Anette’s mental decline as she tries to get her life back on track. The move to the country doesn’t suit her, compounded with Ben’s complete lack of empathy could be construed as mental abuse.

Latif is excellent as an egotist who has almost total disdain for those close to him. His own daughter becoming little more than a tool to enable him access to Alicia. Ridley is also outstanding in a convincing performance her mental decline and paranoia are distressing yet she is not totally detached from what is going on around her.

Yates gradually torques up the tension between Ben and Anette one way. Then naturally alters the balance when Anette decides to take Matilda to the set, out of curiosity to meet Alicia.

It is all looks very slick, with the family setting being a gleaming mirrored luxury house in the country. It all leads to a satisfying conclusion though my guess is that some viewers may not like it for purely structural reasons and personal preferences.

Magpie had its UK Premiere at Halloween FrightFest 2024, and will be available on digital platforms in the UK and Ireland on 11 November.