Based on an original story idea by actress Daisy Ridley, and penned by her husband, actor/screenwriter Tom Bateman, Magpie is an eventually twisted revenge drama that initially paints itself as a study in a toxic relationship. 

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It feels like we’ve seen this narrative play out before where a husband and wife, seemingly drifting from one another, have their dynamic tested when one of the spouses falls for an outside influence. Here, Ridley’s patient (but imploding) Annette sees her husband, Ben (Shazad Latif), transform in front of her as he starts to fall for Alicia (Matilda Lutz), a 20-something actress, who is fronting the film production Annette and Ben’s young daughter, Matilda (Hiba Ahmed), has scored a lucrative role in. 

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Almost from the off we’re on Annette’s side. And it’s not just because Ben is the one  willing to risk his marriage for the charms of a younger woman, but he paints himself as the victim in their relationship. He believes Annette’s the one who has changed and that he’s  justified in his decision to not only pursue an affair with Alicia, but plan for the long haul beyond the dissolution of his marriage. 

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What’s most satisfying regarding Magpie’s narrative beats is that, whilst it commits to the slowest of burns, it very much delights in equaling the playing field for Annette. Yes,  Bateman’s script does ask for the suspension of disbelief in its eventual third act reveal, but it’s so delicious in all its camp satisfaction that you’ll easily forgive it for being a little at  odds with the majority of what director Sam Yates commits to the majority of the film’s 90 minutes. 

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Anchored by another strong turn from Ridley, who is proving herself an actress of tremendous depth and intriguing career decisions in this post-Star Wars career landscape, Magpie is a deceptively fun, pulpy effort that serves up parley and pleasure in equal measure.