Bill Nighy leads an outstanding ensemble cast as an aging, irascible author facing off against his family.

After gaining literary stardom as a young man, Andrew Dyer is an alcoholic recluse, having alienated his wife and sons through an affair that produced another child. On suddenly inviting them all to his English mansion, conflict between them soon erupts – but they, and particularly Andrew, hide secrets that will turn the screw even further. Adapting the prestige novel by David Gilbert, director Pablo Trapero (The Clan) and screenwriter Sarah Polley (Women Talking) scale it back for a tense, unpredictable family drama, powered by a range of strong performances from first-rate names.

Nighy and Imelda Staunton raise each other to incendiary heights as the parents, but George MacKay and Johnny Flynn hold their own as the sons.