‘100 Nights Of Hero’ Review – A Bold Fantasy Tale Bursting With Vivid Imagery [LFF 2025]

After her inspiring and charming Bonus Track in 2023, Julia Jackman now takes a totally different route in 100 Nights of Hero. From the 2000s realism of her debut to this partly medieval, partly fantasy movie, it’s a bold move that pays off because of the impressive world-building and equally strong performances.

Jackman takes you back to a time during which women weren’t supposed to read or write. The patriarchal repression oozes from every pore in society. The filmmaker might have created a fantasy, but the story feels all too familiar for many women worldwide. Luckily, there are still women who dare to push back, and one of them is Hero (Emma Corrin). At first glance, she might just be the maid and best friend of Cherry (Maika Monroe), who lives with her unfaithful yet aristocratic husband Jerome (Amir El-Masry) in a grandiose mansion. However, there’s much more to Hero than you think.

Right from the moment you set foot in that extravagant house, which feels more like a prison for Cherry, you witness cinematographer Xenia Patricia’s (Filipiñana) visually striking work. Yes, 100 Nights of Hero is clearly style-over-substance, but that doesn’t mean the substance’s subpar. It’s just because Patricia’s luscious colours are so easy on the eyes and suck you into Jackman’s world instantly. Together with wide shots, the rich cinematography truly brings out the gloriousness and grandeur of Isabel Greenberg’s book, on which this movie is based.

The colour palette might be bold and bright, but the story is incredibly dark. When Jerome has to go on a business trip (or is it just a cover for something else?), he offers his friend Manfred (Nicholas Galitzine) a place to stay. Not only because the latter needs a temporary roof over his head, but also because he can keep a close eye on the lady of the manor in Jerome’s absence. However, he watches Cherry too closely as his behaviour becomes much more predatory and seductive than amicable. But there comes Hero, who, with secrets of her own, uses her captivating narration skills to keep this dangerous guest occupied. This tale within a tale not only offers an extra layer of intrigue but also a solid performance by Charli XCX. Will Hero’s spellbinding story about the beautiful sisters be distracting enough to keep Manfred at bay and protect Cherry?

It may or may not be sufficient, but it yields an eccentric, funny, and sumptuous story that will definitely make you laugh, cringe, and wonder. It’s the script’s playful sense of humour that shines the brightest, even though this film is about patriarchal control and Manfred’s dangerous seductive game. While Hero’s storytelling moments lead to humorous situations, it’s her string of attempts to sabotage the seductive plan that generates the most heartfelt comedic scenes. Whether it’s her being unexpectedly present when Manfred thinks he’s finally getting somewhere in Cherry’s bedroom or her intentionally being the third wheel, her disruptive efforts will definitely make you laugh out loud.

On top of that, Manfred (inadvertently) making a fool out of himself elevates the funny side of the film and Galitzine’s charismatic performance. After Bottoms, Galitzine (The Idea Of You) proves once again that he gladly embraces humour at his own expense. While Manfred thinks that his physical appearance will help impress and try to win Cherry’s heart, it’s actually the other way around. Whether it’s his character covered in blood after hunting, wearing nothing but a look-a-like bathrobe, or casually leaning against Cherry’s bedroom door when saying goodnight, Galitzine’s playful self-awareness about his appearance keeps the humour flowing.

While Galitzine and Corrin (Nosferatu) provide the wit, Monroe (Watcher) delivers the necessary emotion. Wearing Susie Coulthard’s (The Smile: Wall of Eyes) more flamboyant yet traditional-looking dresses, she offers a graceful and moving performance. Her detailed bishop’s sleeves, majestic feathered collars, and the ultra-tight corsets are the most striking symbols of Cherry’s elegance, beauty, and status. A status she might be about to lose when she can’t provide Jerome with an heir. The men in town, who worship Birdman (no, not you, Michael Keaton, but you, Richard E. Grant), consider women still only as vessels to continue the family line. Wearing ridiculous bird-beaks, Coulthard makes the men look inherently silly and inferior to the women, clothing-wise.

Speaking of Coulthard’s stunningly detailed and creative costumes. She takes it down a notch for Hero to evoke her more lower-class upbringing truly. However, that minimalistic black dress wouldn’t be a true Coulthard look if it weren’t for that most gorgeously sculpted white hat that comes with it. While Corrin has proven that they can pull off the most extravagant costumes, they also shine in a more subdued look. That’s also mainly because of the beautiful and touching performance they give as the humble yet complex Hero. Whether it’s as the masterful storyteller with a hint of slyness or as the maid who has a strong emotional bond with her employer/friend, Corrin delivers magnetic and mischievous acting.

100 Nights of Hero might not offer many in-depth layers, but the beautiful pseudo-medieval garments, Small City Sofia Sacomani’s lavish production design, and enthralling performances turn it into a bold fantasy tale bursting with vivid imagery.

100 Nights of Hero is part of the Headline Galas section at the BFI London Film Festival 2025. It will be released in the US on December 5, 2025, courtesy of Independent Film Company. 

Director: Julia Jackman

Writer: Julia Jackman

Rated: NR

Runtime: 92m