Having spent over a year wowing audiences on the festival circuit, director Hattie Dalton, directing her first debut feature having worked on movies such as Notes On A Scandal and Layer Cake, brings us independently financed comedy-drama Third Star.

James (Benedict Cumberbatch) is a young man with very advanced terminal cancer.  Wanting to live his remaining days as happily as possible, he ropes his three friends - cocky Miles (JJ Field), sensible Davy (Tom Burke) and the secretly unhappy Bill (Adam Robertson) - into one last trip to his favourite beach. The four must come to terms with the fact that their friend hasn’t got long left, and in doing so the group will laugh, cry and unearth dark secrets, facing their own personal demons.

Dalton creates a movie that is unflinching in its approach to death. The true nature of terminal illness is shown in all its alarming reality, but in turn we also look at the nature of friendship. The writing is very natural, with the three actors quite believable onscreen as a group of friends, and in its lighter moments the film is very funny. Whilst it may lose pace in the middle, the heart-breaking final act will leave anyone profoundly moved.

Whilst Burke and Robertson are very effective, the standout performances come from Cumberbatch and Field. Sherlock star Cumberbatch is gripping as a man trying desperately to end his life serenely, but is terrified of the both his deteriorating state and the inevitable end of it. Field, on the other hand, is at first repellent then empathetic as the playboy refusing to deal with his friends’ demise, and haunted by the guilt of his father’s death.

At times harrowing, but ultimately touching and thought provoking, Third Star wrangles some of the most promising in UK acting talent and creates a drama that will stay with you for a long time. It may not be light viewing, but this will be a delight for anyone who likes their cinema with a bit of substance.