THE GIRL IN THE SPIDER’S WEB

Cert 15 Running time

The girl with the dragon tattoo returns with a new identity in this terrific standalone thriller. Based on the fourth book in the series begun by the late author Stieg Larsson, private investigator Lisbeth Salander has to find a laptop containing codes capable of hacking global defence systems. But in order to save the world from possible nuclear Armageddon, she has to confront the demons of her dark past.

Following in the footsteps of Noomi Rapace and Rooney Mara, the star of TV’s The Crown, Claire Foy, is almost unrecognisable except for the unmistakable quality of her performance.

Foy is vulnerable, intense and determined as she puts her own ferocious stamp on the character of Salander, who has audacious computer skills, driving ability and impressive physical prowess.

Stephen Merchant plays a scientist who pays her to hack into the US defence system to obtain the top-secret software. In an explosive scene it’s stolen from Salander and while she chases the men who took it, she’s pursued by Swedish and US secret services.

Along with Foy, Sylvia Hoeks and Vicky Krieps form a formidable trio of powerful women with the men being underlings or henchmen. In previous films, journalist Mikael Blomkvist was a major role, but here, played by Sverrir Gudnason, he’s reduced to a pretty-boy sidekick.

Glossy, glamorous, dark and dangerous, this draws on the films of 007, Jason Bourne and Alfred Hitchcock with two great vehicle chases, a couple of shoot-outs, and a smartly staged game of cat and mouse.

Abuse, incest and paedophilia lurk in the background but instead of on-screen sex we have a flash of torture porn, a touch of S&M kink and lots of cattle prod action.

This is as different a role from Her Majesty as it’s possible to get, and underlines that whatever the role, Claire Foy rules.