Cert: 15

DOES a mother's love for her children have no bounds?

This facet of human psychology is examined to the full as twist by twist falls upon taunted Margaret Hall, played by Tilda Swinton, in a 96-minute thriller that is The Deep End.

A slow start becomes a gripping catalogue of suspense as nightmare scenarios unfold for a mother-of-three struggling to cope while her husband works away from home.

Tilda is grimly convincing as she portrays a tortured face and suddenly finds herself protecting her son's identification after a murder and into a chilling chain of events which include deception, bribery and being witness to the murder of a ruthless villain.

Her life is turned upside down but there is a reluctant hero who comes to the rescue until a final twist in the tale.

One of the strongest assets of this movie, which was a hit at Cannes last year, is that only the viewer is privileged to all that is going on. But just as you think you know the full story - another bombshell hits you, and Margaret, in the face.

Mike Parsons