--- title: "The Debt: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-debt-2010/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-debt-2010" critics_score: 64 critics_reviews: 21 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." --- # The Debt (2010): what the critics said Critics' score 64 from 21 reviews: 7 positive, 13 mixed, 1 negative. The reviews lean mildly positive, though most critics land in the middle: a competent, well-acted espionage thriller rather than a distinguished one. The praise clusters on the cast. Jessica Chastain is the name that recurs most often, usually alongside Helen Mirren, and several critics single out Jesper Christensen’s calm, chilling turn as the Nazi surgeon, with the tense safe-house scenes between him and Chastain cited as the film’s strongest stretch. The flashback material in Berlin is admired for its grit and suspense. The reservations cluster just as tightly, on the final act. Critic after critic calls the ending implausible, contrived or preposterous, and several feel the love triangle sits uneasily beside the crimes the story is built around; a few find the 1990s sections slacker than the flashbacks. The spread is narrow, with only one outright dismissal: The Guardian finds it dramatically unconvincing and morally unsatisfying, while the Los Angeles Times is the lone unreserved admirer. ## Los Angeles Times — Betsy Sharkey Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 31 August 2011. Sharkey finds the film a superbly crafted, brainy espionage thriller with strong momentum. She especially praises Jesper Christensen’s chilling, nuanced performance as the Nazi surgeon. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-xpm-2011-aug-31-la-et-the-debt-20110831-story.html) ## Time Out — Anna Smith Rating 4/5. 27 September 2011. The review is positive, suggesting the thriller sells itself through its cast. It singles out Helen Mirren, Ciarán Hinds and Tom Wilkinson as the main draw. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-debt) ## Total Film — Neil Smith Rating 4/5. 15 September 2011. Smith finds the film a gripping thriller, though its final act is preposterous and its revenge premise feels superficial beside Munich. He singles out Jessica Chastain’s performance as especially memorable. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/the-debt-1-review/) ## The AV Club — Nathan Rabin Rating B. 30 August 2011. Rabin finds the film’s exploration of guilt and identity compelling but says its love triangle feels trivial beside the Nazi crimes at its center. He singles out the tense encounters between Chastain and Christensen for praise. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/the-debt-1798169434) ## Empire — William Thomas Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 30 April 2008. Thomas finds the thriller smart, tense and worthwhile despite a disappointing finale. He singles out Jessica Chastain and Helen Mirren’s performances as its highlight. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/debt-review/) ## Evening Standard — The Standard Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 10 April 2012. The critic finds the thriller engaging despite an occasionally loose plot and an implausible final section. Helen Mirren and Jessica Chastain are singled out for their strong performances. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/the-debt-review-7426904.html) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Kirk Honeycutt Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 14 October 2010. Honeycutt finds the thriller effective overall, though its timeline creates a jarring problem for the ending. He praises the vivid characters and suspenseful production, especially the cinematography, sets, and score. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/debt-film-review-29940/) ## RogerEbert.com Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). The page could not be accessed, so its verdict is unavailable. No praise or criticism can be reliably identified. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-debt-2011) ## Screen Daily — John Hazelton Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 4 September 2010. Festival review. The page identifies this as a review, but the critic’s verdict is hidden behind the paywall. The accessible metadata provides no specific praise or criticism. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/the-debt/5017773.article) ## The New York Times Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). The review’s verdict could not be determined because the article was inaccessible. No praise or complaint from the critic was available to identify. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/31/movies/debt-with-helen-mirren-review.html) ## Radio Times — Dave Aldridge Rating 3/5. The critic calls it decent but unspectacular, with the cast lifting it above the ordinary. They single out the calibre of the performances, including Helen Mirren, Sam Worthington, Tom Wilkinson and Jessica Chastain. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-lusxyv/the-debt/) ## Sight and Sound — Kate Stables Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). Kate Stables finds it a sturdy psychological suspense thriller, though its final act strains credibility. She praises its intriguing focus on the dilemmas of a female lead agent. [Read the review](http://old.bfi.org.uk/sightandsound/reviews/releases/) ## The New Yorker Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). The review finds the thriller uneven, with its implausible plot weighed down by gloomy reflection. It praises Jesper Christensen for a calm, clever performance that dominates the film. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/goings-on-about-town/movies/the-debt) ## Vulture — David Edelstein Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 2 September 2011. Edelstein finds the thriller gripping despite its increasingly absurd turns. He praises the carefully built suspense, especially the weight carried by the characters’ faces. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2011/09/movie_review_the_debt.html) ## Variety — Jordan Mintzer Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 4 September 2010. Mintzer finds the thriller polished and suspenseful but weighed down by conventional plotting and an overdone love triangle. He praises the flashbacks’ gritty details and the film’s skillful handling of its multiple locations and time periods. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2010/film/reviews/the-debt-1117943431/) ## The Guardian — Philip French Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 1 October 2011. French finds the thriller dramatically unconvincing and morally unsatisfactory. He praises the tense Berlin operation and Jesper Christensen’s chilling Nazi portrayal. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/oct/02/debt-helen-mirren-film-review) ## Digital Spy — Simon Reynolds Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 8 September 2011. The review finds the film smart, involving entertainment, despite some jarring visual matches between the younger and older cast. It especially praises the performances of Helen Mirren and Jessica Chastain. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a339341/the-debt-review/) ## Den of Geek — Ryan Lambie Rating 3 out of 5. 8 September 2011. Lambie finds the film a mildly diverting thriller, but says its 1990s sections make the story stumble. He praises Jesper Christensen’s hypnotic performance as the Nazi war criminal. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/the-debt-review/) ## HeyUGuys — Anthony Charles Rating 3.5/5. 8 August 2011. The critic finds it an entertaining, solid political thriller, though it loses momentum and its reveals can be predictable. Helen Mirren’s strong performance is singled out as a major asset. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/the-debt-review/) ## Collider — Matt Goldberg Rating C-. 31 August 2011. Goldberg finds the film uneven, criticizing its unclear characterization and its shift toward conventional spy-thriller plotting. He praises the tense safe-house sequence, where the operatives confront their fears and the mission’s moral complications. [Read the review](https://collider.com/the-debt-review/) ## Paste — David Roark Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 1 September 2011. Roark finds the film suspenseful and well-acted, but says its contrived ending undermines its moral argument. He particularly praises Jessica Chastain’s performance and the polished direction, which make the thriller’s characters matter. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/the-debt-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/the-debt-2010.md