PIERCING (18)

WHO’S IN IT?

Christopher Abbott (Martha Marcy May Marlene), Mia Wasikowska (Crimson Peak), Laia Costa (Victoria), Maria Dizzia (Captain Phillips), Marin Ireland (The Miseducation of Cameron Post), Wendell Pierce (Waiting to Exhale)

WHO’S BEHIND THE CAMERA?

Nicolas Pesce (The Eyes of My Mother), director, writer; Antonio Campos (Martha Marcy May Marlene), Josh Mond (Afterschool), Jacob Wasserman (Katie Says Goodbye) and Schuyler Weiss (Wildlike), producers; Zack Galler (She’s Lost Control), cinematographer; Sofía Subercaseaux (Nasty Baby), editor

WHAT’S IT ABOUT?

Reed (Abbott) is seemingly on a business trip with his wife (Costa) and infant son at home – however, his real intent is to check into a hotel, call an escort service, and kill an unsuspecting prostitute, all in the hope of cleansing his devious impulses and become a better husband and father. He ends up getting more than he bargained for, though, when alluring call girl Jackie (Wasikowska) shows up at his door…

IN ONE SENTENCE, WHY SHOULD YOU BE EXCITED?

Piercing is a disturbing but darkly humorous horror-comedy that toys with American Psycho levels of insanity while also completely flipping it on its head with an unexpected game of cat-and-mouse.

WHEN’S IT OUT?

FRIDAY 15TH FEBRUARY 2019

Search from over ten years of movies here:

Other recent reviews:

Whalefall (dir. Brian Duffield)

A young diver finds himself trapped in the stomach of a sperm whale…

Street Fighter (dir. Kitao Sakurai)

Estranged friends Ken Masters and Ryu compete in a deadly tournament…

Forgotten Island (dirs. Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado)

Two childhood friends venture to a mythical land that tests their friendship…

BFI London Film Festival 2026 Reviews: Elsinore, La Bola Negra and more!

Our first collection of reviews from this year’s BFI London Film Festival, including awards-tipped favourites like Elsinore and La Bola Negra!

Other Mommy (dir. Rob Savage)

A young girl is haunted by a creature that has taken the form of her mother…

The Social Reckoning (dir. Aaron Sorkin)

A whistleblower works with a tech journalist to expose harmful Facebook data…

The Uprising (dir. Paul Greengrass)

In 1381, a ploughman leads a peasants’ revolt against the British Crown…

Verity (dir. Michael Showalter)

The mysterious life of comatose novelist Verity Crawford is slowly uncovered…

Digger (dir. Alejandro G. Iñárritu)

Oil tycoon Digger Rockwell attempts to save humanity from his own disaster…

Extra Geography (dir. Molly Manners)

At an English boarding school, two friends navigate the trials of girlhood…

Optimized by Optimole