The Lesson has one of the best opening scenes of the year, and it gets even more exquisite from there. Although the film broadcasts how the story will end, there are still plenty of twists and turns that will surprise and unsettle you. Directed by Alice Troughton from a screenplay by Alex MacKeith, The Lesson is a mystery/thriller that will leave you watching with bated breath. The story unfolds at a steady pace, and the characters, each of whom is manipulative in their own way, are exciting, the mystery lush and introspective. You’ll find you can’t get enough of this tantalizing world, with its incendiary commentary on originality, inspiration, and what makes good writing.

Liam Somers (Daryl McCormack) is a tutor and short story writer whose resume impresses Helene Sinclair (Julie Delpy) enough to hire him for the summer to tutor her son, Bertie (Stephen McMillan). Bertie is a budding writer who needs to get into Oxford lest he disappoint his father, J.M. Sinclair (Richard E. Grant), a successful author who’s in the midst of finishing his latest novel. The death of his son Felix, a talented writer who would have gone far, hovers over the family. When Liam is asked to read Sinclair’s latest book in exchange for notes on his own novel, his first, their relationship dynamic shifts, and Liam is surprised to learn quite a few secrets, as well as what it takes to write a compelling novel.

Daryl McCormack in The Lesson

The script is clever. Even though it occasionally plays into type, MacKeith’s fascination with writing, with what makes a good story, and what it takes to get it, is engrossing. Troughton’s directing builds tension by turning the film into a game of betrayal, the need to uncover the truth less interesting than the character dynamics and the way their actions affect the story. The thematic throughlines are fantastic, and the payoff is nearly as thrilling as the buildup itself, which is a difficult feat to pull off considering the suspense that permeates the film from the start. The film’s conclusion is remarkably satisfying and gives us much to ponder about after all is said and done.

What makes a good author? How do you measure great writing, and what are you willing to do to make a successful comeback? The Lesson ponders these questions rather thoughtfully, filling the story with a sense of desperation and dread, resentment, and underlying anger. If the movie was a novel, it would certainly be considered a page-turner. Once it gets going, and does so right from the start, you won’t be able to look away. There’s a sense of elitism on Sinclair’s end; he’s an author who considers himself one of the greats, and his ego is huge. And yet he’s threatened by new talent, opting to put Liam and Bertie down instead of mentoring them. His relationship with everyone is strained, and the intensity never abates, building to a climactic third act that earns its moment.

Julie Delpy and Daryl McCormack in The Lesson

The Lesson not only has a tremendous, eerie score by Isobel Waller-Bridge, but contains phenomenal, understated performances from its cast. Richard E. Grant is simultaneously restrained and unhinged in his role, wielding Sinclair’s bitterness and arrogance like a sword as he lashes out, slowly unraveling as the film goes on. Grant casts a powerful shadow over everything, controlling and manipulating everyone around him, but gives Sinclair room to unravel. Daryl McCormack (who was in last year’s acclaimed Good Luck To You, Leo Grande) is able to balance outward respectability with eagerness and frustration. It’s nuanced and tempered, and the outcome of his performance benefits the finale greatly, and he expertly bounces off of Grant’s portrayal. Delpy, though she gets less to do, plays the long game in terms of Helene’s role. She’s distant and seemingly cold, but she’s patient and calculated as well, and it’s lovely to witness the myriad of emotions that swiftly play across her face.

The Lesson is gripping and compelling, enhanced by its cast and score. It knows precisely what kind of movie it is and, though at times predictable, has much to say and a sophisticated, unpretentious style to go along with it. The film lays bare its intentions while keeping some of its cards close. It’s the kind of movie you could spend hours discussing; it will linger on your mind as you dissect everything that occurs. The Lesson is an indelible film, and one that will only be enhanced by a second watch.

The Lesson is now playing in theaters. The film is 102 minutes long and rated R for language and some sexual content.