Generally speaking, if you let Nicholas Cage be Nicolas Cage, you’ll end up with a character that is equally unnerving and fascinating. But, add in Joel Kinnaman’s spectacular portrayal of the strong, silent type and you have a character-driven flick that you can’t look away from.
Cage in a red tuxedo jacket, matching hair, and a gun is exactly the kind of role you’d expect him to take. But what I didn’t expect was for him to go full actor and explore an emotional labyrinth. Is he the antagonist or the protagonist? By the end, it’s hard to say. Cage’s captivating portrayal exhibited a depth and intrigue I was unprepared for. Shit, I wasn’t prepared for any of this.
Joel Kinnaman deserves just as much credit. It’s hard to stand opposite the unbridled insanity Cage pulls off so well, but Kinnaman nailed it. He developed his character into one you simultaneously root for and against. The chemistry between the two is the driving force behind the success of the film, but the production team enhanced every second.
The tight framing, lighting dynamics, and sound engineering work in perfect harmony to create an atmospheric and haunting ambiance that enhances the focus on the two main characters. There are times that the lighting makes Cage look demonic, and others where he looks exasperated and pensive. Set against the background of the Nevada desert, it all paints an eerily surreal setting for Cage and Kinnaman to just be the characters.
Luke Paradise’s screenplay is clever and full of unexpected twists that keeps you asking, “what the fuck is going on?” I don’t know what the hell director Yuval Adler did to elicit these performances, but he pulled off one of the thrilleriest thrillers I have seen in years.