DRAGONFLY

This nasty little number is a gift from the genre gods. Two Academy Award-nominated British actresses, and veteran Mike Leigh collaborators, sink their teeth into the scenery as they go toe-to-toe in this pulpy actors’ showcase. Dame Brenda Blethyn (Secrets & Lies, Pride & Prejudice) and Andrea Riseborough (To Leslie, The Death of Stalin) give contrasting tour de force performances as neighbors who strike up an unlikely friendship. Seeing the lack of care that her elderly neighbor Elsie is receiving from the nursing staff hired by her son, Colleen insinuates herself into Elsie’s life and eventually takes over as her daily caregiver. But Colleen’s motivations are murky at best and seem suspiciously less than altruistic. There’s also something undeniably unnerving about her nature. She is introduced enthusiastically stabbing at a microwave dinner and the motion seems to come quite naturally to her. You can probably guess that this mystery thriller is headed for a jaw-dropping ending, and the anticipation is as delicious as biscuits and tea. ~OO