FILM OF THE WEEK

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (Cert 15, 115 mins, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, Drama/Comedy/Romance, available from May 7 on Amazon Video/BT TV Store/iTunes/Sky Store/TalkTalk TV Store and other download and streaming services, available from May 21 on DVD £19.99/Blu-ray £27.99/4K Ultra HD Blu-ray £29.99)

Starring: Frances McDormand, Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell, Lucas Hedges, Caleb Landry Jones, Sandy Martin.

It has been seven months since Angela Hayes was abducted, raped and murdered on her way home.

The dead girl's mother Mildred (Frances McDormand) is infuriated by the lack of progress under police chief Bill Willoughby (Woody Harrelson).

She rents three advertising hoardings from Red Welby (Caleb Landry Jones) on the outskirts of town and emblazons each billboard with a message aimed directly at the man responsible for apprehending the culprits.

"To me, it seems like the local police department is too busy going round torturing black folks to be bothered doing anything about solving actual crime," Mildred tells a local TV reporter on air, "so I thought these billboards might concentrate their minds."

Officer Jason Dixon (Sam Rockwell), who is under the thumb of his bigoted mother (Sandy Martin), reacts violently to Mildred's public spat with Willoughby and the war of words escalates out of control.

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri creates a vibrant portrait of small town life torn asunder by personal vendettas and retribution.

McDormand is magnificent, skilfully letting her character's frustrations come to a boil, with harrowing consequences.

Her rebel yell sparks sickening violence that may divide viewers, including one scene in a dentist's surgery that leaves jaws fully dropped.

The emotional journey of Rockwell's racist cop isn't wholly believable but his fearless, Oscar-winning portrayal papers over the tiny cracks and there is glorious support from Harrelson.

London-born writer-director Martin McDonagh arms his cast with salty, quick-fire dialogue, deftly juggling the ticking time bombs of ghoulish comedy and heartrending tragedy. Hell hath no fury like a grief-stricken mother scorned.

Rating: *****