Magpie is a largely by-the-numbers social drama that unveils an interesting revenge thriller in its final act.

Helmed by Sam Yates in his directorial debut, the movie stars Daisy Ridley as Anette, a housewife with lingering doubts over her useless husband Ben’s (Shazad Latif) faithfulness.

Ridley has had precious few chances to show genuine range after breaking through as Rey, the central figure in the Star Wars reboots.

She has a meatier role to chew on in Magpie however, which sees her playing a complicated mother in an isolated house in the English countryside.

Her eldest daughter lands a role on a nearby film-shoot and Ben acts as chaperone while leaving Anette at home with their newborn.

Soon doubt is sown as to whether Ben is using his chaperone gig as a way to look outside of his marriage and he is particularly taken with the lead actress on the shoot who plays his daughter’s mother on screen.

That is the general framework for Magpie, which is fine without being remarkable for its first hour.

But it all leads towards an electrifying final 15 minutes, which includes a twist I did not see coming and a chance for Anette to revel in the situation she has created.

While it never reaches the heights of its inspirations – see Gone Girl – Magpie is generally watchable and the reveal is worth the price of admission.

The movie is also in-and-out in 90 minutes and never overstays its welcome.

Find it in cinemas.

Rated 16 for Language, Sex and Violence.

3/5.

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