Alan Tudyk, Rufus Sewell, Shirley Henderson, Olivia Williams, Indira Varma star in the British dark comedy film, The Trouble with Jessica. Tudyk, Sewell, Henderson, and Williams portray couples enjoying a private dinner party, however, the evening takes an unexpected turn after the arrival of an uninvited guest, played by Indira Varma, who ends up committing suicide.
Directed by Matt Winn, The Trouble with Jessica, an official selection of Palm Springs International Film Festival, and Glasgow Film Festival opens in theaters on April 25, 2025.
Here is the synopsis: Married couple Sarah (Shirley Henderson) and Tom (Alan Tudyk) are in terrible financial trouble. On the brink of losing everything, they’ve managed to find a buyer for their stylish London home. When their best friends Richard (Rufus Sewell) and Beth (Olivia Williams) come over for a final dinner, an uninvited old friend, Jessica (Indira Varma), tags along.
After a seemingly trivial argument at dinner, Jessica disappears. She has the temerity to hang herself in the garden, totally oblivious to the adverse consequences for Sarah and Tom’s real estate sale. The only solution: Sarah and Tom must convince Richard and Beth to help take care of this little inconvenience. If they’re clever enough about it, what could possibly go wrong? Knives are out and best-kept secrets are revealed in this laugh-out-loud dark comedy featuring a starry ensemble cast of phenomenal UK talent.”
Director Winn revealed that the plot was inspired in part by an experience he went through around 20 years ago, when his former partner took her own life not long after they broke up. “This element wouldn’t be in the film unless it was a personal experience,” he said. “It essentially put my life on hold for 10 years, and some of that was my choice… we all have good and bad experiences in life, and you have no control over what happens to you, but you have control over your reaction. And unfortunately I struggled – I was definitely overwhelmed by it.”
Critics response has been tepid, with The Guardian review giving the film 3 of 5 stars, and praising Henderson’s performance, writing, “What the movie does have going for it is a terrific performance by Shirley Henderson as brittle, nervy Sarah, the owner of said fancy Hampstead house, along with her husband Tom (Alan Tudyk).” It continued, “Where the film gets into difficulties is that the farce that follows the suicide is mostly strained and unfunny.”
Watch the official trailer for The Trouble with Jessica.
Theatrical Engagements
Quad Cinema
New York, NY
04/25/2025
AMC Ontario Mills 30
Ontario, CA
04/25/2025
Laemmle Royal
Los Angeles, CA
04/25/2025
AMC Northbrook Court 14
Northbrook, IL
04/25/2025
AMC Streets Of Woodfield 20
Schaumburg, IL
04/25/2025
AMC Yorktown 18
Lombard, IL
04/25/2025
AMC First Colony 24
Sugar Land, TX
04/25/2025
AMC Gulf Pointe 30
Houston, TX
04/25/2025
AMC Willowbrook 24
Houston, TX
04/25/2025
AMC Forum 17
Sterling Heights, MI
04/25/2025
Mary D. Fisher Theatre
Sedona, AZ
04/25/2025
Harkins Shea 14
Scottsdale, AZ
04/25/2025
AMC Westminster Promenade 24
Westminster, CO
04/25/2025
AMC Carolina Pavilion 22
Charlotte, NC
04/25/2025
AMC Concord Mills 24
Concord, NC
04/25/2025
AMC Mission Valley 20
San Diego, CA
04/25/2025
AMC Thoroughbred 20
Franklin, TN
04/25/2025
AMC Mayfair 18
Wauwatosa, WI
04/25/2025
AMC Grand Rapids 18
Grand Rapids, MI
04/25/2025
AMC Grapevine Mills 24
Grapevine, TX
04/25/2025
AMC Stonebriar Mall 24
Frisco, TX
04/25/2025
The Flicks
Boise, ID
05/02/2025