Unhinged (2020)
After months of theaters being closed, the theatrical experience in the United States and on a global scale is slowly coming back with the first new release for many being Derrick Borte's Unhinged. On what starts out as a normal drive taking her son to school, Rachel (Caren Pistorius) ends up getting into a slight confrontation with a man named Tom Cooper (Russell Crowe) who will change her life forever. Over the course of the day, Tom hunts down not just Rachel but those around her slowly killing and torturing them to show Rachel what real pain feels like. Where it might be easy to pass Unhinged off as just another action movie judging by the trailers and promotional materiel, the film surprises being quite an effective thriller which feels captivating once it gets past its bizarre setup.
Easily the biggest hurdle the film has to jump is its setup. The film attempts to set road rage up as a catalyst for a larger overall conversation surrounding rage in the modern public and falls completely flat in this aspect. The setup is inherently cheesy and over the top so to try and spin it in a legitimate sense is a flawed logic. With that said, once past the setup the film embraces its identity as a psychological action thriller which is where the film drastically picks up. Largely due to the physicality on display from Russell Crowe who is eating every line up. Even if his character is over the top, it is easy to buy into his rage and the mindset his character takes is legitimately scary and unique. Unlike a character like Michael Myers who is unstoppable as a gimmick, the film very subtlety gives his character a reason not to care about his safety turning him into a man out for revenge with nothing left to lose in a realistic and easy to believe matter. This works well when played against Caren Pistorius's character of Rachel who despite being much more generic, still is believable and feels genuine in their emotion.
Not only is the acting impressive, but so is the directing from Derrick Borte. Compared to most other films from this genre, the action is shockingly held back and crafted. Sure there still are the moments of brutal gore, but more often than not the kills are seen from a distance and are handled with a quiet control almost feeling reminiscent of the action from 2018's Halloween. Props also has to be given in this regard to cinematographer Brendan Galvin who easily is producing the best content of his career and really helps give the film a distinct eye. Rather than just simply going through the motions, it is clear there was a legitimate craft and energy put into the film which is by far one of the most commendable aspects of the film overall.
The premise of Unhinged might be dumb fun, but the film itself is a thrilling and intense 90-minute roller coaster ride that will have audiences on the edge of their seats. The combination in physical aggression from Russell Crowe and Derrick Borte is legitimately impressive and captivating bringing the film to a level above most others from its genre. Where for those not comfortable going to theaters this film will make a perfect viewing at home down the line, for those already feel safe going to a theater, this is an easy recommendation that might not be the best of the year but is a genuinely rewarding experience.
The premise of Unhinged might be dumb fun, but the film itself is a thrilling and intense 90-minute roller coaster ride that will have audiences on the edge of their seats. The combination in physical aggression from Russell Crowe and Derrick Borte is legitimately impressive and captivating bringing the film to a level above most others from its genre. Where for those not comfortable going to theaters this film will make a perfect viewing at home down the line, for those already feel safe going to a theater, this is an easy recommendation that might not be the best of the year but is a genuinely rewarding experience.