Fremd in der Welt

There's definitely something to be said about a film that seems to be as demented and as outrageous as this one. I say that as a very high compliment. The passion driving the filmmakers is clearly visible on screen and there is a lot to be said about a film that you watch that doesn't let you have any idea of where it will go. The two leads are also very strong, especially Melanie Lynskey who has proved herself to be more than capable of leading roles time and time again. She deserves more attention in general. I do think the film suffers from mixing genres a little too much and a little too often, sometimes to the point that I was not sure how to take certain scenes and what their intention was. Still, a very interesting and entertaining film and one that will hopefully gain a large audience.

The bad: some loopholes in the plot irritated me. And there are some unnatural editing jumps in the story. Elijah Wood's character isnt very convincing. But besides these 3 minor flaws this is an enjoyable black comedy.

The good: what is particular funny is the "snowball effect" of the story. It starts out with a woman's small frustration that the police wont retrieve her stolen notebook for her, when she knows the exact adress where her notebook is residing, because of a gps tracker. She decides to take the law into her own hands and asks her neighbour Elijah Wood to help her retrieve her notebook. After that things start spiralling out of control quickly in an amusing way.

Funny and quirky "out of control" story. Great acting performance by Melanie Lynskey, who plays the part of the "sweet" lady, who wont take the injustice any more. She is true to life in her acting, which lift this black comedy up to an enjoyable level, which it wouldnt have been, if this over the top story had been portrayed in a farcical way.

I need credibility, even in a comedy, to enjoy a movie better. And however weird this story might seem, one could imagine, (up to a certain point), that things really got out of hand, the way it is being portrayed here.

In the end this story unfortunately does become somewhat farcical, yet it was still suspenseful and funny enough to watch it through to the end.

Nice black comedy, with a few minor flaws.

According to Slipknot, people = s**t, and that's the conclusion despondant nursing assistant Ruth (Melanie Lynskey) arrives at after witnessing those around her acting like assholes on a daily basis. When her home is burgled, and the police prove less than helpful, Ruth decides enough is enough, and, with help from her neighbour Tony (Elijah Wood), tries to track down those responsible to let them know just how despicable they are.

A smart black comedy featuring standout performances from Lynskey and Wood, I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore is the directorial debut of actor Macon Blair, which makes the movie an all the more impressive achievement. Blair handles the action like a seasoned pro, leading his likeable protagonists into unpredictable situations that go from bad to worse, culminating in a brilliantly orchestrated orgy of violence. What starts out as a quirky drama winds up in seriously dark territory that is scarily brutal, absurdly amusing and hugely entertaining.

Highly recommended. 8/10.

Truly enjoyable hidden gem on Netflix. An unassuming lead who represents everyone of us in a way that no Hollywood regulars ever could, in a great performance. Elijah Wood in a messed up artsy role. Unique, DARK but often hilarious film. A weirdly entertaining and familiar tale. Entertaining from beginning to end, with no breaks, in my opinion. Excellent film that performs way beyond the statistics!

Started a bit slow, and it seemed like it was trying too hard with the so-called cringe humor. I still enjoyed the photography, editing and music even though I wasn't impressed with the plot. Then things changed dramatically for the better. One thing I noticed towards the ending was the similarities with "The Shining" (1980) both in set and music. Might have been wishful thinking but my I'm pretty sure there's a bit of a reference there.

Fantastic acting, I didn't realise the main character was played by the "Heavenly Creatures" (1994) actress. Never really seen her "black, beautiful little eyes" since then, but her average mid-thirties woman looks were very refreshing for a leading character in a motion picture. Elijah Wood always delivers of course, he was hilarious as a very specific loser type.

Overall a very, very good dark comedy with existential overtones, nice plot turns and a great atmosphere. Loved it.