Mirren and Ehrenreich Duel Over a Highsmith Twist in TIFF’s A Talent for Murder

At TIFF 2026, Helen Mirren stars as a fictionalized Patricia Highsmith opposite Alden Ehrenreich in Anton Corbijn’s A Talent for Murder, a sharp, meta two-hander about writers, power plays, and crafting a new Ripley story; Ehrenreich delivers a versatile, chameleon-like performance as their game of psychology unfolds, with Mirren’s commanding presence anchoring the thriller and the scenes between them the film’s strongest asset, though a few late twists slow the pace. Grade: B. The film opens in theaters October 23, 2026.