Jimmy Erskine is the most feared and vicious theatre critic in 1930s London. However when his paper is bought out by a new owner his career is in the cross hairs and he strikes a faustian pact with a struggling young actress.

Jimmy Erskine (McKellen) is the most feared and vicious theatre critic in 1930s London. However when his paper is bought out by a new owner (Mark Strong) his career is in the cross hairs and he strikes a faustian pact with a struggling young actress (Arterton).

The three soon find themselves entangled in a sinister whodunit and their strange triangle of blackmail and betrayal winds tighter and tighter to devastating effect. Based on Anthony Quinn’s best-selling murder mystery.