Victoria is among the cities launching the much-anticipated British period thriller The Critic during a wide release across Canada, the US and the UK on Sept. 13.
Directed by Anand Tucker and written by Patrick Marber, the film is based on the 2015 novel Curtain Call by Anthony Quinn.
First premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2023, The Critic has undergone some re-editing with a revised version promises a fresh take on the story.
Set in 1934 London, The Critic plunges viewers into a dark and suspenseful story centred around Nina Land (Gemma Arterton), an actress who becomes entangled in a perilous situation involving the influential theatre critic Jimmy Erskine (Ian McKellen) and his paper’s editor, David Brooke (Mark Strong). As the tension between the characters escalates, secrets unravel, leading to a dramatic climax that will leave audiences on the edge of their seats.
Billed as a masterful blend of suspense, drama, and period detail, capturing the complex dynamics of power and ambition within the theatre world of 1930s London, the film opens at Vic Theatre on Sept. 13 running through Sept. 18. Get tickets online at https://www.victoriafilmfestival.com/product/the-critic/.
It’s also set to show at Cinecenta at the University of Victoria on Oct. 27, 28 and 29.