Directed by: Jeff Nichols
Run Time: 121 minutes
It has been a while since the last time I got scared by movies. In recent years most horrors failed to frighten me, Paranormal Activity is sucks and the rest is passable. The last time I went scared is when I watch The Others from Nicole Kidman at TV. Well, it is more than just a while I guess.
Now comes a scary thriller that doesn't rely on ghosts or scary score but on the dread and confusion of the main character. Curtis LaForche (Michael Shannon) has apocalyptic dreams, like seeing storms and rain of yellow liquid, but he keeps them from his wife Samantha (Jessica Chastain) and their hearing impaired daughter Hannah (Tova Stewart).
La Forche is a construction worker and his dreams are disturbing him. Not only that, his daughter need an operation. However La Forche 'believe' his dreams and try to built a storm shelter, by borrowing the money from the bank. He also borrow tools from his work that makes him got fired. Angry and facing the problems that the health benefit for his family will run out before his daughter got operated, La Forche is torn apart. He knows that his mother has once diagnosed with schizophrenia and perhaps he has one too. But is it mental illness or there is really an apocalypse looming in the horizon? La Forche is confused, the wife is scared and the whole community think that he just lost his mind. His behavior is distancing himself from his family and sometimes, himself. But what makes the story interesting is that La Forche himself somehow admit the possibility of him having mental illness.
The idea that keeps the viewers doubting whether it is real premonition or just some mental illness has been played good here, especially by the amazing performance by Michael Shannon. This thriller unfolds slowly but sure and some scenes are just plain frightening. Jessica Chastain also shines here, and I think 2011 is Chastain's year (with The Help, The Debt and The Tree of Life, showcasing her acting ability), and also Ryan Gosling's year.
Run Time: 121 minutes
It has been a while since the last time I got scared by movies. In recent years most horrors failed to frighten me, Paranormal Activity is sucks and the rest is passable. The last time I went scared is when I watch The Others from Nicole Kidman at TV. Well, it is more than just a while I guess.
Now comes a scary thriller that doesn't rely on ghosts or scary score but on the dread and confusion of the main character. Curtis LaForche (Michael Shannon) has apocalyptic dreams, like seeing storms and rain of yellow liquid, but he keeps them from his wife Samantha (Jessica Chastain) and their hearing impaired daughter Hannah (Tova Stewart).
La Forche is a construction worker and his dreams are disturbing him. Not only that, his daughter need an operation. However La Forche 'believe' his dreams and try to built a storm shelter, by borrowing the money from the bank. He also borrow tools from his work that makes him got fired. Angry and facing the problems that the health benefit for his family will run out before his daughter got operated, La Forche is torn apart. He knows that his mother has once diagnosed with schizophrenia and perhaps he has one too. But is it mental illness or there is really an apocalypse looming in the horizon? La Forche is confused, the wife is scared and the whole community think that he just lost his mind. His behavior is distancing himself from his family and sometimes, himself. But what makes the story interesting is that La Forche himself somehow admit the possibility of him having mental illness.
The idea that keeps the viewers doubting whether it is real premonition or just some mental illness has been played good here, especially by the amazing performance by Michael Shannon. This thriller unfolds slowly but sure and some scenes are just plain frightening. Jessica Chastain also shines here, and I think 2011 is Chastain's year (with The Help, The Debt and The Tree of Life, showcasing her acting ability), and also Ryan Gosling's year.
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