Sure there are reasons at times for films to be visually plainer, subdued, muted. But when a film is truly exciting to watch it pulls me in. There are directors which have a style which is optically exciting and designer turned director Tom Ford has become one of my favorites with his shocking Nocturnal Animals.
But this film's appeal is not just in how beautiful it is, but in how much Ford skillfully and artfully uncovers a visceral fear that is lurking right under the surface of a polished life. This is the most Lynchian film I have seen not directed by David Lynch. I find his work often focuses on the evil just under the surface and Nocturnal Animals taps into that very grown up horror.
Nocturnal Animals is often difficult to watch. It deals with humans inhumanity to other humans. In some cases because that inhumanity is right in our faces, and unflinchingly so. In other cases because it is palpably right behind the characters' eyes. That is often even more unsettling. Nocturnal Animals is fairly unforgiving. Most films give us a safety valve, we know that the terrible we are contemplating won't quite come to fruition. But this films doesn't have that. It goes there.
So much of what makes this work is the amazing cast. Adams, Gyllenhaal, Shannon, and Taylor-Johnson are all breathtaking. They are asked to do quite a bit of powerful work by Ford and they all step up to the task. Like the gorgeous but extremely cold world Ford creates for his story to play out, each of these performers play the best and worst in themselves (well... Taylor-Johnson is just completely horrible in a way that I didn't think he had it in him).
Nocturnal Animals punched me in the gut. It disturbed me and it thrilled me. It spoke uncomfortable truths. And it ends with one of those endings which just... it's a quiet yet moving ending. Interestingly one of the slightest of slights ends up having one of the most powerful punches. Nocturnal Animals beats you up, and you'll love it.
Nocturnal Animals
Starring: Amy Adams, Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Shannon, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Isla Fisher, Armie Hammer, Laura Linney, Michael Sheen
Director: Tom Ford
Writer: Tom Ford
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