Plot: Jerry (Ryan Reynolds) is that chipper guy clocking the nine-to-five at a bathtub factory, with the offbeat charm of anyone who could use a few friends. With the help of his court-appointed psychiatrist, he pursues his office crush (Gemma Arterton). However, the relationship takes a sudden, murderous turn after she stands him up for a date. Guided by his evil talking cat and benevolent talking dog, Jerry must decide whether to keep striving for normalcy, or indulge in a much more sinister path.
The heroes: Jerry, who is a really nice guy. He just happens to kill people sometimes. Accidentally, you know.
The antagonists: The cat? No, no. The antagonist here is as much the mental illness as it is the horrible solitude that Jerry faces on daily basis
Best scene: The chase and the first kill
Oh-oh something's not right line: Did you fuck the bitch?
What makes it so great? Who would have thought Ryan Reynolds can act? He is really great here as Jerry and the film is worth seeing for his performance alone. But there's more here - some of the films elements, especially the cat talking with Irish accent, are really clever and funny and some of it are so saddening and depressing. The fact that Jerry refuses to take his medication because when he does he cannot hear his animals talking to him and he feels utterly lonely was such a depressing thing to witness.
It's rare when we see someone who does horrible things who is actually really innocent and sweet. That is one ballsy movie because you actually sympathize with Jerry and you want him to be fine in the end. The supporting cast is also really good - Jackie Weaver actually has something to do, Gemma Arterton puts on a hilarious caricature of an haughty English gal and Anna Kendrick is as adorable as ever as the co-worker who may be Jerry's only shot at happiness.
The film is also wonderfully shot and the imagery is great - the real world that Jerry experiences when he is on medication and the flashbacks to his childhood are really disturbing and bleak while the world where he succumbs to his delusions is bursting out with colors and wit.
Scare factor:
- 4/5 evil pumpkins - the film doesn't have jump scares or monsters but it's very disturbing because Jerry is really likable and yet everything is going so wrong for him. Then there is the whole 'accidental kill' angle which is very tragic. The whole film is very witty and done with a lot of imagination but if you think about it there are people out there struggling as much as Jerry is and that is very saddening. Also the contrast of Jerry's worlds changing whether he is on or off meds is shattering.Gore factor:
- 2/5 bloody Leatherfaces - there is quite a bit of gore here but i don't think it's anything too disturbing. Some of it is done in dark comedy mode so it's not frightening.Is there a twist? Not really, but the twist may be how this movie tells a really sad story under the pretense of dark, gory comedy
Unsuitable for: People dating their co-workers, psychiatrists, people who have conversations with their pets. What? We exist.
Repercussions: The next time you get laid? The first thing you do is gonna be checking what the guy you banged keeps in his fridge.
