NOCTURNAL ANIMALS REVIEW

*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

I can't believe that this is fashion-designer Tom Ford's second feature film. Nocturnal Animals is a very intense and dark thriller. At first, you'd think that a professional and highly-accomplished director like David Fincher would've directed this film. Based on Austin Wright's 1993 novel, 'Tony And Susan' and features a star-studded cast including Amy Adams, Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Shannon, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Isla Fisher. 

A "story inside a story," in which the first part follows a woman named Susan (Adams) who receives a book manuscript from her ex-husband, Edward (Gyllenhaal), a man whom she left 20 years earlier, asking for her opinion. The second element follows the actual manuscript, called "Nocturnal Animals," which revolves around a man, Tony (also Gyllenhaal), whose family vacation turns violent and deadly. It also continues to follow the story of Susan, who finds herself recalling her first marriage and confronting some dark truths about herself.

Nocturnal Animals' opening credits are sure to grab the viewer's attention as it consists of various naked obese women dancing. During the three minutes of the opening credits, we are wondering what the point of this is. However, we soon discover that this is all a part of Susan's art gallery. Ford's method impressively works as our attention is now on the film and will keep it until the end credits. We soon learn that Susan's marriage to Hutton Morrow (Armie Hammer) is on the rocks. She believes that he's having an affair and the two lack chemistry. Despite having a well-paid job, a good-looking husband and a huge house, Susan isn't happy. After receiving a manuscript from her ex-husband, Edward, titled 'Nocturnal Animals' Susan becomes consumed by the novel, which is both dedicated to her and named Nocturnal Animals after Edward's nickname for her.

The film cuts between scenes from the book to Susan's reaction and her marriage to Edward. Throughout the film, we are left wondering what happened between Susan and Edward that lead to the end of their relationship? The first scene from the book is extremely tense as it consists of Tony, his wife (Fisher) and their daughter (Ellie Bamber) who, on a road trip through West Texas, run afoul of three troublemakers lead by Ray (Taylor-Johnson). It's a truly horrifying sequence that makes us wonder if this event really happened and was the reason their marriage ended. This scene proves that Nocturnal Animals is not for the faint hearted and it's during the scenes from the books that it's where it is at its most gripping. 

The scenes that show Susan's reaction to the book are effective. Her emotions and body language all show she's affected by what's happening in the book. In the beginning of the film, Susan's make-up and costume all make her character look sophisticated, however, we all see her true self underneath the many layers of make-up and without her fancy clothes.

Susan's flashbacks that show her relationship with Edward show how much the two loved each other and the two married despite her mother's (Laura Linney) disapproval. Both Adams and Gyllenhaal share a lot of chemistry in these scenes.

Nocturnal Animals is the kind of film that you'd expect to be nominated for several Academy Awards. Unfortunately, it's only been nominated for one and that's for Shannon's supporting role as the sheriff who helps Tony. It's a shame because Nocturnal Animals was overlooked this year as it could've been nominated for more. It's hard to believe that Adams wasn't nominated for either of her performances here or in Arrival. She's one of the most versatile actresses working today and always commits fully in her every one of her roles. The same goes for Gyllenhaal too who plays two different characters in this film, the fictional Tony, who struggles after his encounter with the three thugs, and Edward, who we only see in flashbacks when he was married to Susan. Taylor-Johnson is almost unrecognisable as the evil Ray. I'm surprised Ford wasn't nominated for his directing as he really knew how to get the best out of his actors and how to create a thriller that succeeds in creating a tense and dark atmosphere and provoking questions in viewers. Because it was one of my favourite films of 2016, I was disappointed when Nocturnal Animals missed out on a nomination for Best Motion Picture. It has almost everything to make it worthy of a nomination including outstanding performances, passionate directing and a narrative that keeps viewers engaged until the end credits. 

Overall, featuring a star-studded cast who each give some of their best performances, Nocturnal Animals further shows writer/director Tom Ford's unique visual and narrative skill.

8/10