The Amateur has received its first reactions ahead of its cinema release this Friday, with critics calling the spy thriller "gripping".
From director James Hawes, who directed all six episodes of Slow Horses' first season, The Amateur sees Rami Malek play an introverted CIA decoder named Charlie Heller.
When Heller's wife is killed in a London terrorist attack, he takes matters into his own hands to track down those who are responsible.
Joining Malek in the cast are Outlander star Caitríona Balfe and The Matrix star Laurence Fishburne as well as Rachel Brosnahan, Jon Bernthal, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Holt McCallany.
The Amateur has been a hit among critics, with Josh Blumenkranz calling the film "gripping" while praising Malek for his lead performance.
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Blumenkranz wrote: "THE AMATEUR a gripping tech thriller where Rami Malek shines as a smart, driven man seeking revenge after his wife’s murder. The story has an interesting premise, though pacing feels slow. Malek’s intellectual approach stands out. Solid ensemble, but a bit predictable #theamateur."
Jonathan Sim said: "THE AMATEUR is a classic, old-school spy thriller. Rami Malek shines in a role that forces his character to use brains over brawn in an exciting story of revenge that does rely too heavily on the clichéd protagonist afflicted with Dead Wife Syndrome. #TheAmateur"
Meanwhile, Shaurya Chawla wrote that the film is "a (mostly) solid slow burn of a thriller that had me hooked till the end, thanks to a terrific Rami Malek, slick direction and some fun action sequences. Extremely old school in its approach, and handles themes of grief and justice quite well. Good stuff".
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Critic Brandon Norwood added: "THE AMATEUR rules! A spycraft thriller that doesn't hesitate to show the collateral damage of revenge. And despite it's somber tone, it's still thrilling. Cannot wait to see this again soon in @Dolby Cinema. Y'all more of these please!"
"Found #TheAmateur mostly harmlessly entertaining, with a satisfying finish only Malek could generate the bows for. However, it’s just as easy to imagine any other actor in his shoes for the lead role, and seeing them pipe in more boundless energy. Gets the job done," penned Joe Hammerschmidt.
Finally, Wrong Reel's James Hancock said: "#TheAmateur is slickly made and a very solid espionage story, but perhaps falls short of being an exceptional international spy thriller. That said, the cast is fantastic and overall the flick offers an enjoyable evening at the movies."
The Amateur is released in cinemas on April 11.
Reporter, Digital Spy
Harriet is a freelance news writer specialising in TV and movies at Digital Spy.
A horror enthusiast, she joined Digital Spy after working on her own horror website, reviewing films and focusing largely on feminism in the genre.
In her spare time, Harriet paints and produces mixed-media art. She graduated from the University of Kingston with a BA in fine art, where she specialised in painting. She also has an MA in journalism from Birkbeck University.
