"Gripping" British thriller with Gillian Anderson is the "brilliant" movie to watch tonight

Fancy watching a "gripping" British thriller tonight? Why not give this Gillian Anderson movie a go? Shadow Dancer, the 2012 political thriller directed by James Marsh, is the perfect film to watch tonight.

Written by Tom Bradby and based on his 1998 novel of the same name, Shadow Dancer stars Andrea Riseborough as a single mother living in 1990s Belfast who becomes an MI5 informant to protect her young son.

The description reads: "Thriller starring Clive Owen and Andrea Riseborough, adapted by Tom Bradby from his own novel. Belfast native Collette McVeigh (Riseborough) comes from a family of well-known IRA sympathisers."

Who's in Shadow Dancer?

• Andrea Riseborough as Collette McVeigh
• Clive Owen as Mac
• Gillian Anderson as Kate Fletcher
• Aidan Gillen as Gerry McVeigh
• Domhnall Gleeson as Connor McVeigh
• Brid Brennan as Ma
• David Wilmot as Kevin Mulville
• Michael McElhatton as Liam Hughes
• Stuart Graham as Ian Gilmour

What did the critics say about Shadow Dancer?

Shadow Dancer received positive reviews from critics. It currently holds an 85% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 88 reviews.

The Guardian said: "An opaque, slow-burning but brilliant thriller about the compulsions of terrorism, one that avoids ideological bombast and looks instead to the experiences of an angry and frightened woman."

"James Marsh's gripping thriller set in Northern Ireland demands patience and concentration of its audience, but the impeccably crafted film is well worth the effort," wrote The Hollywood Reporter.

The Daily Telegraph said of the film: "Much of Shadow Dancer's drama stems from its characters getting suspicious about one another, which certainly has the ring of historical truth, but becomes less exciting the more we see of it."

"As beige as an old PC, but beneath the surface the blood pumps bright scarlet. An intelligent and emotionally charged spy drama," said Empire Magazine.

Variety said: "The occasional flare-up of violence notwithstanding, it's Riseborough's performance that provides the primary source of suspense."

Where can I watch Shadow Dancer?

Shadow Dancer was recently added to Prime Video, which offers a 30-day free trial for new subscribers. The film is also available to buy or rent on Apple TV.

Other Gillian Anderson movies you can watch right now

If you're after more movies starring Anderson, Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma, the slasher film co-starring Hannah Einbinder, is finally out in the UK and Ireland.

The movie, which has an impressive 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, is out now in UK cinemas, following its release on 21 August.

The synopsis reads: "After years of slapdash sequels and waning fandom, the Camp Miasma slasher franchise is handed over to an enthusiastic young director (Einbinder) for resurrection.

"But when she visits the original movie’s star (Anderson), a now-reclusive actress shrouded in mystery, the two women fall into a blood-soaked world of desire, fear, and delirium."

Shadow Dancer is available to stream on Prime Video.

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Reporter, Digital Spy

Harriet is a freelance news writer specialising in TV and movies at Digital Spy. 

A horror enthusiast, she joined Digital Spy after working on her own horror website, reviewing films and focusing largely on feminism in the genre. 

In her spare time, Harriet paints and produces mixed-media art. She graduated from the University of Kingston with a BA in fine art, where she specialised in painting. She also has an MA in journalism from Birkbeck University.