David Farnor | On 13, Jun 2020

Emily Beecham and Ben Whishaw star in Little Joe, a new sci-fi horror released by BFI this week.

Directed by Jessica Hausner, it follows Alice, a single mother and a dedicated senior plant breeder at a corporation engaged in developing new species. She has engineered a very special crimson flower, remarkable not only for its beauty but also for its therapeutic value: if kept at the ideal temperature, fed properly and spoken to regularly, this plant makes its owner happy.

Against company policy, Alice takes one home as a gift for her teenage son, Joe. They christen it ‘Little Joe’ but as it grows, so too does Alice’s suspicion that her new creations may not be as harmless as their nickname suggests…

“Ben Whishaw and Emily Beecham are sensational in this deliciously creepy and enjoyably unsettling horror,” we wrote in our review of the film when it had its UK premiere at the London Film Festival.

Now, the film’s coming to BFI Player on Monday 15th June, available as part of a £4.99 monthly subscription. It’s also available to buy and rent on other platforms, such as iTunes and DVD and Blu-ray. Here’s the trailer:

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