Vera Icon’s Dramatic New Role Finally Has A Release Date — And It’s Sooner Than You Think
Countdown on: the UK release lands in under two months, and anticipation just shifted into overdrive.
Here we go: Brenda Blethyn is back on the big screen, and this one sounds like a quiet knife-twist. The British drama 'Dragonfly' finally has a UK release date, and it is headed straight for that sweet spot of awards-friendly autumn.
So, what is 'Dragonfly'?
Directed by Paul Andrew Williams, the film stars Brenda Blethyn as Elsie, an elderly woman being failed by the people paid to look after her. Andrea Riseborough plays Colleen, the neighbor who spots what is happening and steps in. They develop a close, complicated bond that turns into Colleen taking on Elsie's care. Jason Watkins - yes, the one from The Crown - is Elsie's son, and he is not thrilled with the arrangement. The film keeps nudging you to wonder whether Colleen's motives are as generous as they appear.
When and where can you see it?
'Dragonfly' opens in UK cinemas on Friday 7 November 2025.
Festival run and early buzz
This one has already made the rounds and picked up some serious praise:
- World premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival in June, where Brenda Blethyn and Andrea Riseborough shared the festival's Performance award.
- UK premiere at the Edinburgh Film Festival.
- Winner of the International Feature award at Ireland's Galway Film Fleadh in July.
Is it a horror? Not exactly - but...
Genre-wise, it is slippery. The movie has been invited to screen at a few horror festivals, which tells you the vibe. Williams himself is pretty clear that he is not making a straight-up fright-fest, even if he leans into audience expectations and lets a couple of moments sting.
"I like to think the end is horrific, but I don't think it's a horror... there is a particular scare - a super jump - and it really does make people jump."
He is also bracing for the reception on the horror circuit, joking that he is preparing to be booed. The upshot: expect something emotionally brutal with at least one jolt big enough to make your popcorn hit the floor.
Why this matters
Blethyn, best known for leading ITV's 'Vera' for 14 years, is doing the kind of layered, lived-in work that tends to win trophies. Pairing her with Riseborough is a flex, and the early awards back that up. The premise sounds small, but it is the kind of small that gets under your skin.
Side note for Blethyn completists: she is also lined up for a remake of a classic Channel 4 drama.
'Dragonfly' lands in UK cinemas on Friday 7 November 2025.