I’m not sure how many are actually aware of this film? I had ended up watching it previous, probably still on DVD from Netflix back in those days (that is kind of a dark period of new films), so ended up taking a chance on it and dug it. I still do, after a re-watch probably almost 15 years later. Michael Shannon does fantastic here carrying what is a solid story with a side of nightmare fuel. Psychological drama in the hardest sense.
Curtis (Shannon) is just a blue collar man in rural Ohios working industrial construction gigs, with his wife Sam raising their young deaf girl and makin cash seamstressing on the weekends (that’s like sewing, not some other nefarious doings). Good people, decent life. But Curtis starts having some weird nightmares. It’s enough to be worrying, especially considering his family history. And he starts making some odd impulse buys. Not small stuff. It gets him in trouble in pretty much every aspect of his life. And not in a humorous way. It’s quite gripping, actually, as we watch the storms roll in.
I saw William Friedkin’s Bug in 2006, I think that’s the first time I noticed Michael Shannon and how good he was in it. Most actors are the character, good job if you don’t notice it’s actually The Actor. Character actors, the b-roles, filling in, good but anonymous. But Shannon kinda stuck out as a Decent Actor, and then I saw this. Pow! Great job as the story unfolds, with great roles by, in a rare okay performance (at least to me) by Jessica Chastain as his wife, and Shea Whigham as his buddy. There’s an interesting layer going on here as the story plays out. If even slightly considering watching it after reading whatever kinda synopsis you may have seen about it (the briefer, the better), or this drunken recommendation appeals to you in any manner, definitely check it out. It’s a very well done drama on multiple levels, even if it doesn’t include the song by the Rolling Stones.
Shit. That’s Gimme Shelter. Screwit, close enough. Doesn’t need that as the theme song though, this stands well enough on its own.
