Fackham Hall
| Fackham Hall | |
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| File:Fackham Hall poster.jpg Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Jim O'Hanlon |
| Written by |
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| Produced by |
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| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Philipp Blaubach |
| Edited by | Colin Fair |
| Music by | Oli Julian |
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Running time | 97 minutes[1] |
| Countries |
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| Language | English |
| Box office | $2 million[2][3] |
Fackham Hall is a 2025 period slapstick comedy parody film[4] directed by Jim O'Hanlon and co-written by Jimmy Carr, Patrick Carr, and The Dawson Brothers.[5] The film stars Thomasin McKenzie, Ben Radcliffe, Katherine Waterston, Emma Laird, Tom Goodman-Hill, Anna Maxwell Martin, Sue Johnston, Tom Felton, and Damian Lewis.
Fackham Hall was released in the United States by Bleecker Street on December 5, 2025, and in the United Kingdom by Entertainment Film Distributors on December 12, 2025.
Plot
[edit | edit source]The Davenports have been owners of Fackham Hall for generations, but patriarch Lord Davenport has no surviving male heir. The Davenports' daughter Poppy is due to marry their cousin, Archibald, which will keep the Hall in the family. Thief and orphan Eric Noone is given a message to bring to Lord Davenport, but when he arrives he is presumed to be an applicant for an open hall boy position and takes the job, forgetting about the letter. At her wedding, Poppy flees the church, declaring her love for a commoner. Lady Davenport pushes her other daughter Rose to marry Archibald, but Rose is repulsed by his chauvinistic manner. She is instead attracted to Eric, who she had previously met after running into him with a car, and the two spend the night together.
In the morning, Lord Davenport is discovered dead. Inspector Watt arrives, and determines that it is likely a member of the assembled wedding guests in the house who committed the crime. Eric is accused after he is discovered to have robbed Lord Davenport's desk, but he refuses to use Rose as his alibi and shame her. He is arrested and thrown in jail, while Rose reluctantly agrees to marry Archibald to save Fackham Hall.
In jail, Eric rediscovers the letter previously given to him and reads it, learning that he is actually the long-lost child of Lord Davenport's brother, thus a cousin of the Davenports and the rightful heir to Fackham Hall. He escapes confinement, intending to head to the church to stop Rose's marriage to Archibald, but is stopped by Mrs. McAllister, Fackham Hall's housekeeper, who reveals that she framed Eric for the murder. She was having an affair with Lord Davenport, and during an argument about him firing his manservant/illegitimate son and replacing him with Eric, Lord Davenport had accidentally been stabbed, shot, poisoned, and strangled. Inspector Watt overhears the confession and arrests Mrs. McAllister, and Eric reveals his true parentage. Though Archibald attempts to shoot his long-lost brother, he misses and is taken away, and Eric and Rose marry instead.
Cast
[edit | edit source]- Thomasin McKenzie as Rose Davenport
- Ben Radcliffe as Eric Noone/Nathaniel Davenport
- Damian Lewis as Humphrey, Lord Davenport
- Katherine Waterston as Prudence, Lady Davenport
- Emma Laird as Poppy Davenport
- Lizzie Hopley as Phyllis Davenport
- Tom Felton as Archibald Davenport
- Tom Goodman-Hill as Inspector Watt
- Anna Maxwell Martin as Mrs Edna McAllister
- Sue Johnston as Great Aunt Bonaparte
- Jason Done as J. R. R. Tolkien
- Tim McMullan as Cyril
- Ramon Tikaram as Darvesh Khalid
- John Thomson as Bill Bobaggins
- Ian Bartholomew as Austin Blaine
- Karen Henthorn as Sister Jude
- Jimmy Carr as Vicar
- Adam Woodward as Bert Chester
- Nathan McMullen as Alexander
- Erin Austen as Mary and Constance Bechdel
- Lily Knight as Fifi Valentine
- Magdalena Sverlander as Rose Seller
- Laurie Ogden as Patricia
- Paula Wharton as Mrs. Kitchen
- Gemma Wardle as Gladys
- Shaun Mason as Army Officer
Production
[edit | edit source]Fackham Hall is a parody of traditional period dramas like Downton Abbey (2010) and Gosford Park (2001).[6] Comedian and screenwriter Jimmy Carr said Fackham Hall was a mashup of period drama and comedy.[7]
Principal photography began in Yorkshire in November 2024 and was completed in late 2024.[5][8] Additional cast members announced were Damian Lewis, Ben Radcliffe, and Tom Felton.[9] Additional filming was done at Knowsley Hall in Liverpool, and Thornton Hough, Wirral.[10][11]
David Arnold was hired to compose two original songs and the score. Arnold is also receiving a "music by" credit in the film, while Oli Julian is credited as a "composer".[12]
Release
[edit | edit source]Fackham Hall was released in the United States by Bleecker Street on December 5, 2025,[13] and in the United Kingdom by Entertainment Film Distributors on December 12.
Reception
[edit | edit source]On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 77% of 43 critics' reviews are positive. The website's consensus reads: "With a gleefully affectionate tone, Fackham Hall barrels through a dizzying amount of story and nonstop gags, occasionally overwhelming itself but ultimately winning out through its fearless comic spirit." Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 54 out of 100, based on 11 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.
References
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External links
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