[SXSW 2024] MAGPIE -- Daisy Ridley Erotic Thriller Is Conventional but Entertaining

Review by Sean Boelman

Star Wars sequel trilogy actress Daisy Ridley has discussed how she’s struggled to get work after the end of her franchise contract, so why not create work herself? That’s what she did with Magpie, an erotic thriller written by her husband, Tom Bateman (who’s also an actor, making his screenwriting debut here), based on an original idea by her. While a tad generic, Magpie is a great acting showcase for Ridley and is undeniably fun to watch.

The film follows a seemingly happily married couple whose daughter is cast in a film production alongside a controversial budding starlet, causing an unexpected rift in their relationship. Although Bateman’s script thinks it’s smarter and more original than it is, it’s still effectively built within its tropes. 

The cast of the film is excellent. All three leads — Ridley, Shazad Latif, and Matilda Anna Ingrid Lutz — are bringing their A-game. Latif, in particular, stands out, playing the sleazy but charming protagonist troublingly well. However, Ridley is an excellent foil to Latif, giving a similarly two-faced turn, albeit in the opposite direction. Lutz is just incredibly lovable and sympathetic.

That being said, one of the things that doesn’t really work about Magpie is its character development. Ridley’s character isn’t given enough personality to justify the actions of Latif’s character, who is, therefore, maybe a bit too sympathetic. Lutz’s character is objectified and shallow but not quite enough to be satirical.

Furthermore, although Magpie was made well before Saltburn came out, the comparisons are sure to be inevitable — it’s a British thriller with an ending reveal that spells out everything for the audience with absolutely no ambiguity. Still, with a tight 90-minute runtime, the film has an undeniable narrative momentum that will draw viewers in.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s an enjoyable ride. Watching Ridley and Latif go back and forth is entertaining, much like it was fun to watch Daniel Day-Lewis and Vicky Krieps in Phantom Thread. However, the film does feel very shallow. The commentary on obsession is nothing new, and while it shows a lot of potential in exploring themes of objectification and the toxicity of online culture, these are tangential to the story.

Director Sam Yates doesn’t bring much of a distinct style to the film, but he is able to lend the film an effective atmosphere. This is the type of film set in haute couture that you almost expect to be a little more glamorous and flashy than it is, but in many ways, it’s down and dirty. A few scenes are very kinetically edited in a way that will keep viewers on their toes.

Magpie pales in comparison to many of the other erotic thrillers that came before it, but it’s a ton of fun to watch nonetheless. Still, if I were a marriage counselor, I’d knock on Tom Bateman and Daisy Ridley’s door. For the couple to come up with something like this, something must be going on between them.

Magpie screened at the 2024 SXSW Film Festival, which ran March 8-16 in Austin, TX.

​Rating: 3.5/5