Macbeth, weary from a hard-fought victory against the Thane of Cawdor, is greeted by three strange witches on his way home from the battlefield. They tell a tale of things not yet true and proclaim that he will soon be King of Scotland. Unable to believe their prophecy but secretly hopeful that they are correct, Macbeth sends his wife a letter informing her of what he was told. She is taken with the prophecy and begins plotting a way to make sure it comes true. As the witch’s predictions unfold in unexpected ways, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth become more and more invested in seeing it through to the end no matter the cost.

The classic Shakespearean drama is on full display in this lovingly crafted, modern minimalist take. The black and white film adds a level of gravitas to the whole affair and makes it feel incredibly polished. As someone who hasn’t read Shakespeare since high school and didn’t particularly enjoy it, the opportunity to watch a modern interpretation didn’t really grab my attention at first. However, the elite cast of Denzel Washington, Frances McDormand, Brendan Gleeson being directed by Joel Coen was too good to ignore.

The Tragedy of Macbeth is available to watch on Apple TV+.