Jimmy Erskine is the most feared theatre critic of the age. He lives as flamboyantly as he writes and takes pleasure in savagely taking down any actor who fails to meet his standards. When the owner of the Daily Chronicle dies, and his son takes over, Jimmy quickly finds himself at odds with his new boss and his position under threat. In an attempt to preserve the power and influence he holds so sacred, Jimmy strikes a Faustian pact with a struggling actress, entangling them and the boss in a thrilling but deadly web of desire, blackmail, and betrayal.
Directed by Anand Tucker
blackmail
deception
murder
critic
1930s
stage actress
theatre
actress
Trailer
IMDB
N/A
Where to Watch
Cast
Ian McKellen
Jimmy Erskine
Gemma Arterton
Nina Land
Mark Strong
David Brooke
Lesley Manville
Annabel Land
Ben Barnes
Stephen Wyley
Romola Garai
Cora Wyley
Alfred Enoch
Tom Tunner
Ron Cook
Hugh Morris
Claire Skinner
Mary Brooke
Matthew Cottle
Graham Meadows
Beau Gadsdon
Freya
Nikesh Patel
Ferdy Harwood
Crew
Anand Tucker
Director
Patrick Marber
Writer
Craig Armstrong
Original Music Composer
Mark Gordon
Executive Producer
Patrick Marber
Executive Producer
Jolyon Symonds
Producer
Anand Tucker
Executive Producer
Robert Sterne
Casting
Popular Reviews
51 reviews
Nina Ye
3.0★ · 09/20/25
Holy iPhone face 🤯
Holy iPhone face 🤯
Jemma Jarvis
6.0★ · 07/04/25
Need to see Jimmy Erskine’s letterboxd
Need to see Jimmy Erskine’s letterboxd
Sam
5.0★ · 05/11/25
Ian McKellen is really good, but the story never felt like it was going anywhere once the first climactic moment hit
Felt rushed for a 2 hour movie but it ends as a inconsequential plane entertainment piece
Ian McKellen is really good, but the story never felt like it was going anywhere once the first climactic moment hit
Felt rushed for a 2 hour movie but it ends as a inconsequential plane entertainment piece