Fifty Shades of Grey

The film of the literary phenomenon is here – literature student Anastasia Steele goes to interview the handsome and tormented billionaire Christian Grey, and despite his enigmatic exterior, she finds herself eager to close to him. Grey wants her too, but is driven by his compulsive need to control everything, and although initially reluctant after learning of his tastes, Anastasia soon finds herself drawn into his enticing world.

If you’re reading this (or if you've read the book), you very likely know what to expect from this film – all the joy of a classic love story, but with added whipping and bondage. The two leads sell it well (both Dakota Johnson as the naïve young Anastasia and Jamie Dornan as the brooding and intense Grey), their insatiable chemistry lighting up the screen and the psychological underplay adding an air of mystery. This is a film that will win no awards, but it was never supposed to, instead aiming to appeal to everyone – this is a captivating drama and well worth a watch.

Reece Goodall