'Magpie' Reviews: "when the twist arrives, it has a kicky crowd-pleasing resonance"

         On October 25, 2024, 'Magpie' was released by SHOUT! STUDIOS, receiving a mixed reception from critics resulting in a score of 67% on Rotten Tomatoes. "MAGPIE is a stylish neo-noir thriller centered on married couple Anette (Daisy Ridley) and Ben (Shazad Latif), whose lives begin to fracture when their daughter is cast alongside a glamorous movie star, Alicia (Matilda Lutz). As Anette's suspicions of Ben's infatuation with Alicia intensify, their secrets and lies threaten to burst to the surface and destroy them all." But what did the critics say?

       Owen Gleiberman of Variety says, "Shazad Latif, with his tall handsomeness, his gentle grin, and his man-bun, plays Ben as someone who has worked hard to be sensitive, and therefore thinks that what he wants he deserves. But he’s deluded. He is, on the film’s own terms, toxic, but “Magpie” isn’t a harangue. It’s a thriller, and for all the Screenwriting 101 simplicity of many of its scenes, it builds toward a climax that’s disarmingly satisfying. It’s one of those “Usual Suspects”/ ”Saltburn” twists, which means that you have to accept that there’s a certain only-in-the-movies logic to it. But when the twist arrives, it has a kicky crowd-pleasing resonance. It’s not just about playing games. It’s about a mother saying just how much she wants to be loved."

       Angie Han of Hollywood Reporter notes, "Despite a juicy hook built on heated emotions and drastic actions, Magpie proves too cold and ultimately too timid to spark much of a reaction."

       Chase Hutchinson of Collider praises the film, stating, "There is nothing quite as fun as seeing a talented performer really go for it. When they’re as great as Daisy Ridley and given the room to work, all bets are off. Magpie triumphantly showcases this, as she gives one of her best performances to date. Sure, there was the underrated Sometimes I Think About Dying from earlier this year, and the first two entries in the Star Wars trilogy she helmed weren't too bad. However, nothing has seen her get to flex her acting muscles quite like what she has done here in complete synchronicity with director Sam Yates as well as writer Tom Bateman, Ridley's husband and collaborator." Continuing, "A thriller that starts solidly enough and picks up steam before blowing the doors off with an outstanding ending, Magpie is one of those rare films that feels both fresh and alive while building off classic genre works of the past. More than anything, it cements Ridley as a screen presence without compare, as she makes a meal of this dark madcap of a movie that all rides on her shoulders. Who even really needs Star Wars, anyway?"

Photo by Toni Cuenca on Unsplash