A Talent for Murder (2026)

Erbland finds the film an entertaining, clever mystery, though it loses momentum when it strays from its central two-hander. She especially praises the sharp, compelling face-offs between Helen Mirren and Alden Ehrenreich.

Barsanti calls the film an elegant, witty potboiler that captures the compulsions behind Ripley. He praises the performances and the film’s understanding of Highsmith’s work.

The critic finds the film an entertaining, sleek homage whose shortcomings do little to diminish its appeal. She praises Helen Mirren’s performance and the film’s sumptuous look and absorbing slow-burn style.

Castillo finds the film a clever, entertaining cat-and-mouse drama, though its staging feels too theatrical. She singles out the electric mental chess between Helen Mirren and Alden Ehrenreich for praise.

Weitzman finds the film underpowered overall, despite Helen Mirren’s lively performance as Patricia Highsmith. She singles out Mirren’s spirited turn, while faulting the meta-mystery for not cutting deep enough.

Lee finds the film an admirable but uneven return to twisty chamber thrillers, with its plot failing to deliver the expected surprises. He praises Helen Mirren and Alden Ehrenreich as a formidable pair, but says the script gives them too little truly vicious material.

The headline characterizes the thriller as underwhelming, suggesting a negative verdict. It singles out Helen Mirren’s spiky portrayal of Patricia Highsmith.

The critic finds the film a joyous, tense showcase that works especially well because of Alden Ehrenreich. They single out his nuanced, shifting performance as the film’s standout strength.

The critic finds it a first-rate, suspenseful mystery that keeps viewers guessing through its final frame. They praise the lead performances and the way the visual worlds of fact and fiction gradually bleed together.

Wise calls the film flawed but very entertaining, with a strangely satisfying conclusion. He especially praises Helen Mirren’s mesmerizing portrayal of Patricia Highsmith, while finding Alden Ehrenreich less convincing in the film’s meta turn.