Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

ANDY’S RATING: ★★★ In cinemas on Friday

BLACK comedies don’t come much blacker. In British playwright Martin McDonagh’s Oscar-tipped laughfest, the gags come attached to a plot that takes in rape, murder, cancer, racism, suicide and a heartbroken dwarf.

Before the shocks wear off, this is an uncomfortable but thrilling trip and you never know where it’s heading.

It also boasts three great performances. Frances McDormand is at her deadpan best as Mildred – a giftshop worker who rents three billboards to taunt police for failing to solve her daughter’s murder.

Sam Rockwell’s shtick works well for his thick and violently racist cop. “I don’t torture n ****** ,” he protests, “I torture people of colour”.

The most nuanced performance is from Woody Harrelson as the police chief who failed to catch Mildred’s daughter’s killer.

When he exits the freewheeling plot, the film loses its heart and its focus.

Depending on how well you can handle the wild shifts in tone, this could be an early contender for your film of the year.

It’s very clever, but after a while I could feel McDonagh straining for the next uncomfortable laugh. In Bruges, his effortlessly brilliant first film, wasn’t as dark but it was a hell of a lot funnier. This rechargeable long life LED spotlight will be all the torch you will ever need with its extra bright beam. The lightweight design is weatherproof, has a charging indicator, and includes a 12V car charger and AC/DC adapter.

Size: 180 x 150mm.