Think of England - film review
★★½
When I first heard the premise of Think of England, I’ll admit I smiled.
A secret government project during the Second World War. A remote Scottish island. A mismatched group of people brought together to make pornographic films supposedly for British troops. It sounded wonderfully eccentric and, given the setting, I was expecting something with the offbeat charm of Whisky Galore!. Instead, writer-director Richard Hawkins takes us somewhere much darker.
The film is inspired by the long-running rumour that Churchill's government commissioned adult films to boost troop morale during the war. There is no evidence that this ever happened, but it is the sort of wartime tale that has just enough plausibility to make you wonder. Governments were certainly concerned with keeping soldiers healthy and fighting fit, and huge efforts were made to reduce the loss of manpower caused by venereal disease. Against that backdrop, the idea feels almost believable, even if the reality almost certainly belongs in the realm of myth.
Set in 1943 on a remote Orkney island, the story follows six strangers who have been recruited to take part in this highly secretive project. At first, there is a curious sense of intrigue, but before long it becomes clear that this is not going to be a light-hearted wartime romp.
In fact, Think of England is surprisingly bleak.
The darkness isn't simply because of the subject matter. Violence, torture and an ever-present sense of menace loom over the entire film. The most unsettling storyline belongs to Corporal Harry Evans, played by Jack Bandeira, a former professional pornographic actor who is now a damaged and deeply traumatised soldier. Harry carries the emotional scars of war, and Bandeira gives a committed performance that often feels like the beating heart of the film.
One of the more interesting aspects of the story is that everyone has their own reason for being there. None of these characters are simply helping the war effort out of patriotism. Each has been promised some form of amnesty, forgiveness or fresh start by the government if the assignment is successfully completed. That creates an atmosphere where trust is constantly in short supply and self-preservation often wins out over friendship.
The character I found myself most invested in was Holly Spurring, played by Natalie Quarry. Holly desperately wants to be taken seriously as an actress and repeatedly insists, "I'm not a whore." Her dream is to become the next Marlene Dietrich, and she spends every opportunity working with refugee director Max Meyer, hoping to develop her craft and build a future beyond the role that others have assigned to her. Quarry brings warmth and vulnerability to a film that often feels cold and oppressive.
Ronni Ancona is also excellent as hair and make-up artist Agnes Duprée. Initially she appears to be the kindest and most compassionate member of the group, someone trying to hold onto her humanity amid impossible circumstances. Yet one of the film's strongest themes is how fear can erode principles. As the stakes rise and the promised rewards come under threat, even Agnes begins to bend.
There are moments of light relief. Seeing the group spend an evening dancing together and enjoying a brief escape from their situation provides a glimpse of camaraderie and reminds us what these people have to lose. I only wish there had been more of those moments.
The cast are strong, the setting is atmospheric and the central premise is genuinely fascinating. Yet despite all the ingredients being in place, the film never quite comes together as successfully as it should. It is ambitious and thought-provoking, but so determined to be dark that it sometimes forgets to engage us emotionally.
There's a very good film hiding inside Think of England. Unfortunately, this isn't quite it.
Think of England previews at the Greenwich Film Festival on 20 October 2026 and opens in UK cinemas on 6 November 2026
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