Style is substance in Ford’s second film. Unlike many puzzle-piece movies, it thrills on every level.
The thriller elements have genuine gut-wrenching power, but everything around them is comically severe.
There is an unwholesome kind of toxic deliciousness in this film: a vodka kick of pure malice.
The result is a clever, complex exploration of emasculation, humiliation and revenge with a brilliant ensemble cast.
This stylish psychodrama is a skilful synthesis of the mood of Hitchock, the skewed reality of Lynch and Kubrick’s obsessive attention to detail.
Susan (Amy Adams) is materially successful but emotionally unfilled. When she’s sent a manuscript by her ex (Jake Gyllenhaal), telling a tale of vengeance in the Texas desert, she reminisces on her former life and confronts the mistakes she’s made.
General release. Check local listings for show times.
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