In the summer of 1943, six people are sent to a remote Orkney island on a secret government mission: to make pornographic propaganda films to boost the morale of frontline soldiers.
It sounds like the start of a farce, and Think of England has its share of dark comedy. But as filming goes on, the personal traumas of its makeshift crew rise to the surface, and Richard Hawkins’ film becomes something sadder and stranger. It opens in UK cinemas this Friday.
It is the oddest war film of the year, and one of the most melancholy.
Movie at a Glance
- UK release: In cinemas from Friday 6 November 2026 (Tull Stories)
- Director: Richard Hawkins
- Starring: Jack Bandeira, Natalie Quarry, Ronni Ancona and John McCrea
- Certificate: 18 (UK)
- Runtime: 102 minutes
- Genre: Period drama, dark comedy
Viewer Match
- Best for: Viewers who like offbeat British period films with a dark streak.
- Maybe skip if: Adult content or sexual themes are a deal-breaker.
- Mood and pace: Wry, uneasy and increasingly sombre.
- Cinema or streaming? Cinema if you can find it, though it will play well at home.
- Spoiler level: Spoiler-free.
A Very Secret Service
The premise is irresistible, and Hawkins plays it with a straight face. The isolation of the island, the absurdity of the orders and the embarrassment of the participants create plenty of awkward comedy.
The film has fun with wartime bureaucracy and British reserve.
What Lies Underneath
But this is not a romp. As the project unravels, the film becomes a study of damaged people pushed together, and the moral questions about what they are making grow harder to ignore.
The cast, including Ronni Ancona and John McCrea, handle the shifts in tone well.
Uneven
The balance between comedy and trauma is not always steady, and some of the characters feel thinly sketched.
It is a film you admire for its nerve more than you love.
One to Seek Out
For more of this week’s British releases, see this week’s Weekly Cinema Pack. If you liked Animol, this is another distinctive British voice. For tonight, see What to Watch Tonight.
Spoiler-Free Verdict
Think of England is a bold, curious British drama with an unforgettable premise. Its tone is uneven, but it has more to say than you might expect.
- Performances: 7/10
- Direction: 6.5/10
- Screenplay: 6.5/10
- Score: 6.5/10
- Cinematography: 7/10
- Entertainment Value: 6/10
- Overall score: 6.5/10
Star rating: 3/5
Verdict badge: Best watched in the Cinema
One-line verdict: An odd, melancholy wartime story that is braver than it is polished.
Watch the Official Trailer
Watch the UK trailer.
Had you heard of wartime morale films like these? Tell us what you think.