'The Trouble With Jessica' explores dark comedy of friendship and secrets

Matt Winn’s British black comedy "The Trouble With Jessica" delivers gallows humor through a single-setting chaos after a shocking death.

From left, Indira Varma, Shirley Henderson, Alan Tudyk, Olivia Williams, and Rufus Sewell in "The Trouble With Jessica." © Music Box Films

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

In The Trouble With Jessica, director Matt Winn crafts a biting British black comedy that uses death not as a tragic endpoint but as a spark for unfiltered chaos among a group of old friends. "The Trouble With Jessica" review shows how the film unfolds almost entirely within the confines of a stylish London home, turning the elegant space into a playground of gallows humor, awkward confessions, and desperate schemes.

At the center of the film is Jessica, portrayed with memorable sharpness by Indira Varma. Jessica, a smug and often manipulative bachelorette, has built her latest success around a memoir titled The Trouble With Jessica. However, in a dark twist that sets the tone for the film, Jessica ends her life during a seemingly routine gathering with longtime acquaintances. Her sudden death forces her friends to grapple with far more than grief — it becomes a catalyst for panic, cover-ups, and self-reckoning.

Before Jessica’s fatal act, the film carefully introduces the fraught relationships between the guests at Sarah and Tom’s farewell dinner party. Shirley Henderson brings a mix of bitterness and vulnerability to Sarah, who seems more resentful than affectionate toward Jessica. Meanwhile, Alan Tudyk plays Tom with a guileless charm, a man trying to stay afloat amid rising tension.

Adding to the combustible mix are Richard (Rufus Sewell), a slick defense attorney known for his moral flexibility, and his nervous wife Beth (Olivia Williams), whose anxiety bubbles beneath the surface. "The Trouble With Jessica" captures how each character’s insecurities and secret resentments are exposed in the face of an unthinkable crisis.

Sarah’s idea to move Jessica’s body to her own apartment — in a desperate attempt to avoid losing the sale of her home — sets off a frantic, and often absurd, chain of events. The group’s collective descent into panic is heightened by unexpected visits from suspicious police officers and an eager, wealthy buyer. The manic energy is underscored by a mischievous jazz score that perfectly matches the mounting absurdity.

"The Trouble With Jessica" uses dark humor to highlight human flaws

At its best, The Trouble With Jessica channels a Pinteresque sensibility, using limited space and rapid-fire dialogue to draw out deep tensions. :The Trouble With Jessica" review finds that the film’s real strength lies in its ability to blend farcical scenarios with moments of genuine emotional discomfort. Even as the friends scramble to maintain appearances, their facades crack, revealing layers of hypocrisy, betrayal, and selfishness.

However, the film's dark satire of the upper-middle-class British elite only occasionally lands with full force. While it sets up an intriguing critique of social pretenses and moral decay, the revelations about the characters often feel predictable rather than truly subversive. In this way, the death of Jessica becomes less about her and more about the shallow, crumbling facades of those she left behind.

"The Trouble With Jessica" review also notes that the film’s cast delivers performances that inject much-needed vitality into a script that sometimes falters. Shirley Henderson stands out, bringing sharpness and layers to Sarah, whose desperation is both comic and pitiful. Rufus Sewell and Olivia Williams add further depth, especially in scenes where loyalties shift and paranoia sets in.

Indira Varma’s Jessica, though present for a short time, leaves a strong impression. Her character’s selfishness, both in life and in death, haunts the film’s proceedings. Yet, despite the strong performances, the film occasionally struggles to maintain momentum. Some scenes feel stretched, and the blackmailing and finger-pointing lose their punch as the narrative circles familiar territory.

Despite its clever premise and moments of inspired madness, The Trouble With Jessica does not fully capitalize on the rich thematic material at its disposal. "The Trouble With Jessica" review points out that while the film aims to satirize the hypocrisy and vanity of a supposedly righteous social class, it often does so in broad strokes.

The characters’ soul-searching feels more like skimming the surface rather than diving into meaningful introspection. As a result, the film sometimes feels like an extended dark comedy sketch rather than a fully fleshed-out commentary on human frailty and societal rot.

A stylish but ultimately slight addition to the black comedy genre

Visually, The Trouble With Jessica is sleek and stylish, making excellent use of its single location. The confined space adds to the characters' claustrophobic panic, turning the elegant home into a trap of their own making. Director Matt Winn’s attention to detail ensures that the atmosphere remains tense even when the plot loses some of its bite.

Ultimately, "The Trouble With Jessica" review concludes that the film offers an entertaining, if somewhat lightweight, addition to the black comedy genre. It is a stylish, occasionally biting look at friendship, betrayal, and the lies we tell ourselves and each other. However, viewers hoping for a deeper or more devastating satire may find themselves wishing the film had pushed its bold premise even further.

The Trouble With Jessica thrives in moments when it embraces the full absurdity of its situation, allowing its talented cast to lean into the dark humor and chaotic energy. As a showcase of British gallows humor and ensemble performance, it largely succeeds. Yet, its potential to be a scathing commentary on societal hypocrisy remains only partially realized.

In the end, The Trouble With Jessica is a film that promises much with its clever setup but delivers a satire that is more amusing than truly cutting. Those who enjoy single-setting dramas with a healthy dose of dark comedy will find plenty to appreciate, but others might leave wishing for sharper teeth beneath the laughter.