--- title: "Femme: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/femme/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/femme" critics_score: 77 critics_reviews: 18 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Femme (2023): what the critics said Critics' score 77 from 18 reviews: 14 positive, 3 mixed, 1 negative. Most critics take to Femme, and they agree on why: the performances. Nathan Stewart-Jarrett and George MacKay are praised in nearly every review, usually for the shifting balance of power between them, and the film is widely described as a tense, sexually charged neo-noir that turns a revenge plot into a study of how men perform masculinity. The reviews cluster tightly around four stars, so the spread is narrow. The reservations gather at the ending. Several critics find the final stretch forced or unclear, and The Skinny and Deadline both say the conclusion undercuts what comes before. The New York Times questions the decision to humanise the attacker at such length. The sharpest dissent comes from the festival run: The Hollywood Reporter calls the pace sluggish and the tone an old kind of queer misery, while The Playlist finds the whole thing heavy-handed. Even the doubters, though, single out the two leads. ## Screen Daily Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 19 February 2023. Festival review. The critic describes Femme as a tremendously effective, subversive and sexually charged revenge movie that reframes neo-noir by harnessing a hate crime. The impressive feature debut and the intense power-play between the leads are singled out. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/femme-berlin-review/5179396.article) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 30 November 2023. The film is a well-worked-through psychodrama of sexual danger and revenge with tense developments and reversals that keeps viewers on edge. It features outstanding performances from Nathan Stewart-Jarrett and George MacKay with delicacy, subtlety and depth. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/nov/30/femme-review-george-mackay-nathan-stewart-jarrett) ## Vulture Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 1 May 2024. The critic highlights the film's potent erotic thriller elements, where desire and domination blur identities and power dynamics. Strong lead performances and ambiguous writing make the revenge story volatile and compelling. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/femme-review-an-intensely-erotic-thriller.html) ## IndieWire — Ryan Lattanzio Rating B+. 19 March 2024. The critic praises the bruising queer revenge thriller for its complex exploration of trauma, vengeance, and unexpected tenderness between attacker and victim. The film ends with an unsettling lack of clarity that leaves a powerful impact. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/femme-review-george-mackay-nathan-stewart-jarrett-1234965870/) ## Empire — Sophie Butcher Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 1 December 2023. The critic praises the film's tense, exhilarating exploration of sexual manipulation and shifting masculinity through a dual character study. Strong performances by Nathan Stewart-Jarrett and George MacKay make it a vividly compelling ride despite familiar revenge tropes. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/femme/) ## Evening Standard — Nick Howells Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 30 November 2023. The critic highlights the film's deliciously queer take on revenge, delivered sizzlingly hot as a nerve-tingling erotic thriller. It is deeper and more satisfying than expected, with excellent turns by the leads and a beautiful, liberating climax. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/femme-movie-review-nathan-stewartjarrett-george-mackay-b1123427.html) ## Little White Lies — Emily Maskell Rating 3/4/4. 1 December 2023. The review calls Femme a rewardingly complex character-focused revenge thriller that boldly tackles homophobic violence through its central relationship. The strong performances, especially Stewart-Jarrett's, and the script's interest in self-reclamation are singled out for praise. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/femme) ## Los Angeles Times — Manuel Betancourt Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 30 March 2024. The film is a deliciously vicious London-set revenge thriller anchored in the centrality of performance in everyday life, particularly gender and queerness. Strong lead performances navigate mercurial motivations in a gorgeously mounted meditation that ends cruelly but leaves viewers bruised yet stronger. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2024-03-30/femme-review-nathan-stewart-jarrett-george-mackay-erotic-thriller) ## Radio Times — Matt Glasby Rating 4/5. The review calls the film a frighteningly dark and accomplished erotic thriller with strong direction, cinematography and fantastic lead performances. The building tension and uncertainty about the characters' knowledge of each other are highlighted. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-yo7g3i/femme/) ## Sight and Sound Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 28 November 2023. The critic describes the film as an unpredictable, genre-shifting erotic thriller about a drag performer seeking revenge after a homophobic attack. Strong lead performances and a playful take on film noir tropes and power dynamics between the two men are highlighted. [Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/femme-modern-erotic-thriller-with-looks-kill) ## Time Out — Stephen A Russell Rating 4/5. 21 February 2023. Festival review. The critic finds the film an electric, incendiary London-set noir thriller with a dangerously twisted take on code-switching and toxic masculinity. The strong performances by the leads and the way it humanises both characters amid unfolding tragedy are praised. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/femme-2023) ## The New York Times — Beatrice Loayza Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 21 March 2024. The white-knuckle erotic thriller scrambles a conventional revenge plot as the victim develops a dubious affection for his foe while exploring gender performance and dominance-submission dynamics. It humanizes the abuser in a questionable focus but reaches a slippery, meaningful realization that vengeance can pale against seeing an enemy as small and pathetic. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/21/movies/femme-review-bad-lovers.html) ## Slant Magazine — Diego Semerene 20 February 2023. Festival review. The critic finds the film a nervy exploration of the sartorial as a narrative device and the slipperiness of queer and trans subjectivity. It effectively blurs lines between gay and trans experiences while showing desire's pull toward risk and brutality. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/femme-review-nathan-stewart-jarrett-george-mackay/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — David Rooney 19 February 2023. Festival review. The critic finds the film admirable in intention but short in execution, with a sluggish pace and ineffectual payoff. The lead performances are strong, but the tone veers into outdated queer miserablism and the storytelling lacks psychological texture. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/femme-review-nathan-stewart-jarrett-george-mackay-1235329836/) ## The Times — Kevin Maher Rating ★★★★☆. 1 December 2023. Sexual politics and genre smarts collide in this gripping London-set drama about a closeted gay thug and the drag artist he attacks, with the leads delivering career-high and deft performances in an audacious debut. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/uk/society/article/femme-film-review-an-audacious-debut-about-masculinity-zf5p5t3mv) ## Variety — Guy Lodge Rating Critic's Pick. 21 February 2023. Festival review. The critic highlights the sensational performances by Nathan Stewart-Jarrett and George MacKay as the chief selling point of this tense revenge drama, which offers a nuanced examination of masculine identities and disguises. Some wild plotting moves in the home stretch are noted as forgivable first-feature glitches. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2023/film/reviews/femme-review-1235529479/) ## Collider — Marco Vito Oddo Rating A-. 22 February 2023. Festival review. The critic praises the gripping revenge tale that explores complex issues of gender, sexuality, and toxic masculinity through strong performances, though it's not an easy watch due to heavy themes. [Read the review](https://collider.com/femme-review/) ## Eye for Film — Jennie Kermode Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 9 August 2023. Festival review. The tension is masterfully handled in a revenge thriller narrative that also poses difficult ethical questions. It is distinguished by its complex, ambiguous characters and intelligent handling of genuine feelings amid danger. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/femme-2023-film-review-by-jennie-kermode) ## HeyUGuys — Liam Macleod Rating 4/5. 24 August 2023. Festival review. Femme is an exceptionally tense, morally grey neo-noir thriller that explores the performative nature of masculinity. It stands out for its neon-infused atmosphere and strong lead performances. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/femme-review/) ## The Skinny — Carmen Paddock Rating ★★★. 27 November 2023. The film offers complex character portraits of a gay man seeking answers or revenge through a relationship with a closeted thug, exploring legacies of homophobia. While the conclusion feels forced, its uncompromising script and strong performances mark it as an astonishing feature debut. [Read the review](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/new-releases/femme) ## Deadline — Valerie Complex Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 19 February 2023. Festival review. The critic notes the film's exploration of vengeance and its psychological toll, praising the visuals, direction, and lead performances (especially MacKay's risk-taking and Stewart-Jarrett's charm), but complains that the story relies on old tropes, leaves characters underdeveloped (especially Jules), and ends with confusing questions about the protagonist's actions and self-preservation. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2023/02/femme-berlin-review-queer-thriller-will-leave-the-audience-with-more-questions-1235265415/) ## The Playlist — Rafa Sales Ross Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 23 February 2023. Festival review. Femme is an erotic noir thriller that feels painfully on-the-nose in its execution. It is notable for its intense performances by George MacKay and Nathan Stewart-Jarrett in a story of revenge and self-loathing. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/femme-review-this-erotic-noir-thriller-with-george-mackay-is-painfully-on-the-nose-berlin-20230223/) ## Film Stories — Lauren Miles 29 November 2023. Femme is a consistently tense and morally complex thriller that puts LGBTQ+ characters at the heart of a noirish plot. It is elevated by outstanding performances from Nathan Stewart-Jarrett and George MacKay. [Read the review](https://filmstories.co.uk/reviews/femme-review-a-tense-complex-thriller/) ## Paste — Andy Crump Rating 7.8. 27 March 2024. The review highlights the nuanced revenge thriller focusing on the fallout of homophobic violence and Jules' moral dilemma, with strong performances, noting that the revenge leads to self-destruction. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/george-mackay/femme-review) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/femme.md