Melanie Lynskey is perfectly cast as Ruth, a young woman who 'doesn't feel at home in this world anymore'. Ruth starts out navigating through some awkward moments in an amusing way. She has a fear of death and the nothingness it leaves us with. But when her house is burgled and the police won't help, she focuses on the selfishness and unlpleasantness of others. She turns vigilante and becomes determined not only to retrieve her stolen items but to give the thieves a jolly good lecture on how decent people should behave.
At first, this appears to be an intelligent, thoughtful movie, told at a gentle, engaging pace but at some point (not sure when) this approach is abandoned and the film is pretty much driven by little more than violence, shooting and chasing, like a poor Tarantino movie (or maybe a poor Coen Brothers film). The ending is not completely satisfying either because the film touches on many themes but doesn't really tie them together. The writer had some great ideas but is not really sure how to develop them. I was left wondering what the point of the movie was. Not for the first time have I thought this about Netflix movies, a point doesn't seem important to them.
Having said that, the movie does have a lot going for it and is therefore worth watching. There are some interesting characters and the acting is great throughout. It's also nice to see a movie that is not too long and does not overstay its welcome. Most importantly, the movie is consistently entertaining. Maybe that's the whole point of it, in which case it succeeds.
At first, this appears to be an intelligent, thoughtful movie, told at a gentle, engaging pace but at some point (not sure when) this approach is abandoned and the film is pretty much driven by little more than violence, shooting and chasing, like a poor Tarantino movie (or maybe a poor Coen Brothers film). The ending is not completely satisfying either because the film touches on many themes but doesn't really tie them together. The writer had some great ideas but is not really sure how to develop them. I was left wondering what the point of the movie was. Not for the first time have I thought this about Netflix movies, a point doesn't seem important to them.
Having said that, the movie does have a lot going for it and is therefore worth watching. There are some interesting characters and the acting is great throughout. It's also nice to see a movie that is not too long and does not overstay its welcome. Most importantly, the movie is consistently entertaining. Maybe that's the whole point of it, in which case it succeeds.