TIFF 2026 Review: A Talent for Murder – “the cast is relatively small and the dialogue is sharp.”

An up-and-coming literary agent is given the task of convincing author Patricia Highsmith to write one more murder mystery featuring Tom Ripley.

Moving around her own home like the spooky Mrs. Danvers in Rebecca is Patricia Highsmith, who likes to mentally torment people; this is somewhat explained in a framed nasty letter written by her equally nasty mother.  There is a Strangers on a Train moment as literary agent Edward Ridgeway sits across from Clementine Balfour on his way to convince Highsmith to write a sixth book featuring the sociopathic Tom Ripley.    What follows is psychological warfare which makes one wonder what would have happened to the author if the typewriter was not her instrument of choice.

This could seriously work as a stage play as the cast is relatively small and the dialogue is sharp.  It is quite obvious that Helen Mirren is relishing the role of Patricia Highsmith, especially with her gleeful shock of discovering a gun was actually loaded.  Alden Ehrenreich has the interesting task of playing two characters, with one being uncertain and bumbling. and the other confident and calculating.  Acting as the narrative spine are the voice-overs as they set up the context of what is going to unfold.  Some moments are over the top, like Edward climbing a rather tall vine to get into the bedroom of Clementine but there are also nice touches like Highsmith handwriting the name Tom Ripley onto an award she won, as they are both responsible for her success.

Everything is put together with a slick craftmanship from the production design, cinematography, editing and costume design.  What is quite an accomplishment is being able to tell stories within the stories in a way that propels everything forward and adds to the overall tension.  Twists are plentiful, keeping the audience off-balance and never quite sure as to the true capabilities and intentions of Highsmith and Ridgeway. The Strangers on the Train homage is appropriate and laid the foundation for Highsmith to create Tom Ripley and his various murderous schemes.  The mind games blur what is real and imagined.  However, something that is undeniable is that despite being a fictional character, Tom Ripley really lives and breathes inside the mind of the author who created him.

The 51st Toronto International Film Festival runs September 10-20, 2026, and for more information visit tiff.net.   

Trevor Hogg is a freelance video editor and writer who currently resides in Canada; he can be found at LinkedIn.