Netflix is removing Ian McKellen and Lesley Manville's "terrific" period thriller very soon

A period drama described as "atmospheric" and "terrific" is leaving Netflix next month. The Critic follows Jimmy Erskine (Sir Ian McKellen), a harsh theatre critic who writes cruel reviews for The Daily Chronicle.

The publication is taken over by Viscount David Brooke (Mark Strong), who threatens to fire Jimmy over his behaviour, leading the writer to ensnare young actor Nina Land (Gemma Arterton) into a plot to seduce Brooke in exchange for good reviews. Lesley Manville also stars as Annabel Land.

You can currently watch the film, directed by Anand Tucker, on Netflix until 7 October, when it will be removed from the streamer.

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The Critic premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2023, but received mixed reviews from critics at the time.

The film holds a 51% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with the critics' consensus reading: "Everyone's a critic, and Ian McKellen is better than most at playing one, but even his character would give this rote melodrama a so-so review."

It has fared better among general viewers, with users on IMDb describing The Critic as "terrific" and "moody and atmospheric".

Many praised McKellen's performance as Jimmy, with one user writing: "Ian McKellen was just devastating in his 'deliverance' of the role of the critic and the supporting cast did him justice."

Another said: "The Critic is nicely done. Ian McKellen is blustery, unethical, manipulative, and a joy to listen to. Mark Strong is a plummy, arrogant newspaper publisher. Gemma Arterton is trying to follow her dream.

"The secondary characters behave appropriately. It all depends on McKellen, and I'm glad the film ends as it does. The Critic is a little slow at points, which drops it a point."

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A third posted: "The trailer for this film gives the impression that it is a drama laced with dark humour. But there is little humour here, and it gets very dark before it ends.

"It's a good film, though, with a little bit too much coincidence in the characters' relationships (or, perhaps, too many minor subplots) which don't really play into the main narrative."

The Critic is available to stream on Netflix until 7 October.

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Freelance Reporter, Digital Spy Rebecca is a freelance journalist who specializes in TV and film. After beginning her career as a digital entertainment journalist for the Express & Star and Shropshire Star, she embarked on a freelance career in 2021 contributing to the likes of Metro UK, The Sun, WhatCulture, Screen Rant, FilmHounds Magazine and more. Her particular field of interest is horror cinema and she has written for genre publications such as Ghouls Magazine and Moving Pictures Film Club. LinkedIn