The Trouble with Jessica: On the red carpet with Rufus Sewell, Shirley Henderson and Matt Winn at the London premiere

As one settles in for new British feature The Trouble with Jessica, all seems fairly familiar. It opens on a luxury London flat as an affluent couple prepares to entertain their friends over a dinner party. There’s the usual bitching about the guests set to arrive, particularly one who wasn’t officially invited: Jessica. Their chums arrive one and one and as they sit down to dinner, banter and back-handed comments fly across the table between the contrasting characters. And then, a shocking twist takes the movie down a much darker road than one could have predicted…

Armed with a stellar cast in Shirley Henderson, Alan Tudyk, Rufus Sewell, Olivia Williams and Indira Varma, this satire of a certain ilk of North London middle class (who know what a blueberry clafoutis is) is sharp-witted and ruthlessly black in its comedic beats, the actors each taking on their stereotype with relish and playing off each other effortlessly. By throwing his characters into more and more unhinged and morally grey territory, Matt Winn takes aim at a British society in turmoil, showing the impact of a cost of living and cultural identity crisis on the formally comfortable, and the lengths they will go to to hang onto their lives as they knew them.

At the London premiere, The Upcoming chatted with Shirley Henderson who highlighted the film’s blend of chaos, comedy and unexpected early twist. She shared how she appreciated the script’s addictive quality, the intense group dynamics and the challenges of mastering rapid dialogue. Henderson also touched on the uniquely British mix of humour and darkness, the portrayal of strained relationships and her hopes for audience entertainment despite the darker themes.

Rufus Sewell described the feature as a dark, funny and twisted film about a dinner party gone wrong. He enjoyed the unexpected twists and working with a fabulous cast, including familiar faces. Sewell found his character intriguing, blending comedy with tragedy in a distinctly British manner.

Matt Winn discusses his film then spoke about crafting the script and the story’s dark, humorous nature designed to uplift audiences, aiming to explore middle-class life in London amidst societal challenges. Winn praised his cast’s dynamic, the engaging yet claustrophobic setting and the importance of visual storytelling. He expresses a desire for the film to provoke reflection on personal truths and societal stereotypes, hoping viewers emerge changed and entertained.

Sarah Bradbury

The Trouble with Jessica is released in select cinemas on 5^th April 2024.

Watch the trailer for The Trouble with Jessica here: