Jennifer Kent’s first film, The Babadook, may be frightening, but The Nightingale takes terror to another level. Unflinching in its portrayal of England’s histories of violence in Australia, her sophomore feature seethes with an anti-colonialist and anti-patriarchal anger that’s difficult to forget.

Unmasking the illusory excess of the 1980s, Sean Durkin’s psychologically askew chamber piece is a decadent treat with a poisonous core, boasting standout performances from Jude Law and Carrie Coon. The superbly biting repartee makes this a must-see addition to the pantheon of toxic movie marriages.