Dragonfly Review
A gritty comment on the isolation of old age becomes one of the most surprising thrillers of the year, in Paul Andrew Williams’ first directed feature since 2021’s Bull.
Brenda Blethyn stars as Elsie, an elderly woman robbed of her independence and isolated in her bungalow after a fall. Her largely-absent son (Jason Watkins) pays for private carers to visit, all of whom are careless and spend as little time with her as possible. Her neighbour, Colleen (Andrea Riseborough), notices the neglect and begins to help with small jobs, slowly forging a close bond. However, something dark in Colleen’s nature threatens to shatter this amicable arrangement.
On the surface, the premise is a solid pitch for an everyday drama about isolation. Williams does an excellent job of portraying the way in which the elderly are forgotten by society, glanced over by overworked carers and only given the occasional call from relatives. On the other side, there’s Colleen, a stern, straight-talking woman on benefits who spends much of her day in her front garden with her giant dog Sabre. The pair’s unlikely friendship could have been an endearing tale of two people on the fringes of society finding each other, but Dragonfly has something else in mind.
There’s an unsettled tone to the story, even if much of the ‘action’ involves Colleen making her new friend dinner or having awkward conversations about age (her drawn appearance leads Elsie to believe she is 40, much to the 35-year-old’s disgust). There are little flourishes that nod toward horror, such as a face-off between Elsie and Sabre in the kitchen. Even this, however, can’t prepare you for a third-act shift so sudden you may suffer whiplash. It’s not a gimmick exactly, as anyone watching closely will know something isn’t right. However, the twist in the tale will be alarming for those expecting a kitchen-sink drama from beginning to end for Dragonfly.
Blethyn has been away from the big screen in recent years, given her 14-year tenure in TV detective drama Vera, which came to a close in January. She’s as far from that character as you can imagine, but gives a stunning performance as a woman clinging to anyone who will listen to her, even if it’s someone as dark as her neighbour.
Riseborough is sensational, once again transforming herself into a character that’s far more complex than it has any right to be. With a scraped back ponytail, Bristolian accent, and generally confrontational demeanour, what initially seems like a grown-up version of Little Britain’s Vicky Pollard soon descends into darkness, as the Oscar nominee allows fits of rage and frustration to pierce through. While the script could have done more to sketch out her background, there’s no doubting her capability to commit the horrors of the final 20 minutes.
An interesting exercise in cinematic foreboding, Dragonfly takes some big risks with its impressive leads, resulting in a story that will play on your mind for a while.
★★★★
In UK cinemas from November 7 / Brenda Blethyn, Andrea Riseborough, Jason Watkins / Dir: Paul Andrew Williams / Conic / 15
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