Hunting Alice Bell review – this conspiracy theory thriller starring Simon Pegg is a hot mess

Inspired by the story of Maxine Carr, this twisty drama follows a group of women accused of helping a killer. It tackles everything from witch hunts to incel culture … and unravels like a real-life version of The Traitors Hunting Alice Bell begins with a familiar scene. A woman has been found guilty of aiding and abetting Jason Nash (Simon Pegg), a murderous anaesthetist and also her former boyfriend. A furious crowd has gathered to bang on the van as it takes her away to serve 18 months in prison. But the woman under the blanket is a decoy – the real Alice Bell is being smuggled out of another exit. The mob’s bloodlust is deferred but not satisfied. Upon her release, Bell will be given a new identity. Several years later, the life of Fran Da Silva (Alexandra Roach) is about to change for ever. She’s sitting down to breakfast with her husband and two teenage stepchildren when a brick crashes through the window. She’s ostracised at work. The kids come home from school with bloody noses and tales of abuse. At the insistence of social services, the family’s infant daughter is sent to live with her grandmother. Continue reading...