The Nest

IN BRIEF: A well acted but inconclusive psychological study.

JIM'S REVIEW: (RECOMMENDED) Change is not always a good thing. A little known independent film called The Nest proves that point rather well. Director / writer Sean Durkin sets an ominous tone from the onset in this psychological study about a family coming undone with their abrupt relocation from America to the UK. To say that the move does not go well is an understatement.

Rory O'Hara and his lovely wife, Allison, live the perfect storybook life. He is a rich trader and she is his pampered trophy wife caught in 80's opulence and living the good life. All seems well enough on the surface with the O'Hara's until Rory decides to head back to his hometown of London and uproot his family. One small problem: Rory is a grifter and liar and he and his family will be forced to make the ultimate sacrifices due to his overt actions.

The family dynamic is odd from the start. Unexplained circumstances occur with some subtle but mostly heavy-handed symbolism (a dark horse buried and suddenly exhumed, an expensive fur coat showing personal greed and wealth, doors unable to lock, hidden cigarette butts indicating rebellion, a wool sweater showing character enabling, etc.). The on-going tension slowly builds and personality traits morph these characters into totally different individuals,: Samantha (Oona Roche) becomes the defiant teenage daughter, Ben (Charlie Shotwell) morphs into a introverted young boy and the husband/wife tag team, expertly played by Jude Law and Carrie Coons, become a warring tribe sorting through all of their self-centered behaviors. Mr. Durkin's screenplay establishes its tone most effectively, but only hints at the betrayals and destructive behaviors of this family. Scenes of more direct conflict could have created to produce a more concise family portrait.

Still most of the film is atmospheric and engaging due to Sean Durkin's fine direction and the acting of Mr. Law and Ms. Coons as the battling spouses. They are very good in their roles and bring their characters' self-indulgences and bitternesses centerstage. Their explosive scenes are terrific when they finally arrive as they snipe and rage at each other, but they are rarely viewed. Most of their inner anger stays within, always simmering to the top, yet rarely brims over. As their children, both Ms. Roche and Mr. Shotwell are totally convincing as pawns in their parent's gamesmanship.

The Nest is a special type of film, more for those moviegoers interested in psychological tension, creepy atmosphere, and well-define characters than a plot-driven story with definite results. Despite much to admire, this nest is a tad empty. (GRADE: B-)

"The Nest" was totally preaching to this choir.

The older we get, the more my wife and I find ourselves drifting into the life philosophy of minimalism. Our focus is on cutting all the junk out of our lives, not just material junk, but psychological and emotional junk as well. This means deciding where are priorities are, what's important to us, and eliminating things and people that interfere with that.

The patriarch in "The Nest," played by Jude Law, is pretty much the exact opposite of that. Never content with what he has (which is a lot when the movie starts, and more than most people on the planet will ever have) he insists on moving his family into a giant and decaying mansion in England in order to take a job that he knows will give him his big break. But it doesn't, and the effect his greedy lust for more, more, more has on his family comprises the plot of this movie. Law is very good, but Carrie Coon, as his wife, steals the show. Her character arc is the film's most fascinating element, a woman who's allowed herself to become subservient to her husband but for whom subservience doesn't come naturally. A couple of scenes, both set at dinner tables as it happens, where she asserts her dominance over her husband, are the film's most uncomfortable and memorable.

Some symbolism involving a pet horse is broadcast with all of the subtlety of a tornado siren, and the sheer unpleasantness of being around these miserable people may turn some viewers off, but I mostly found myself engaged with this one.

Grade: A-

It would be impossible for me to rate this file. My wife and I chose to watch this film looking for thriller. It turned out to be anything but. If I had to classify this film, I would call it psychological character study. As this is not what we expected to see, we spent the whole time wondering when the thriller elements would begin. When the ending credits started, we thought it was a complete waste of time and regretted not picking something else. If it was properly classified, it might be an excellent film. It might rate a 7 or more. If you expected a thriller as we did this would rate a 0 or 1 which is something I would never do.

"The Nest" (2020 release from the UK; 106 min.) brings the story of Rory and his wife Allison and their kids Samantha (14) and Benjamin (10). As the movie opens, we are in New York and watch "a day in the life" of this family. Next morning, Rory has news: he has a great job opportunity in London (where he hails from). Allison reluctantly agrees, and soon the family arrives in the UK at their new place in Surrey, a massive 17th century mansion. It's not long before tension rises... At this point we are 15 min. into the film but to tell you more of the plot would spoil your viewing experience, you'll just have to see for yourself how it al plays out.

Couple of comments: this is the second feature-length film from writer-director Sean Durkin, who previously gave us the excellent "Martha Marcy May Marlene". Here he examines the consequences of uprooting a family from their familiar New York surroundings to a brand new and unfamiliar environment in the UK. This movie is plot-heavy and hence I'm not going to say a whole lot more, although I will say this: I found this movie classify, as it covers a number of different areas, although a generic 'family drama' could cover it. Also, the movie is set in the 1980s: there is reference to "President Reagan" on the radio, and 1980s music is a-plentiful including the Thompson Twins, the Cure, and many others. What I thought at the end of the film was this: "Money's Too Tight (To Mention)", the 1985 hit by Simply Red. Why? Just watch! Jude Law (as Rory) is excellent once again (he currently stars in the HBO mini-series "The Third Day"), and the same goes for Carrie Coon (for Allison). Beware: there are a few scenes in the movie involving horses that you may find difficult to stomach (I looked away).

"The Nest" premiered at this year's Sundance Film Festival (yea, pre-COVID-19) to good buzz. Then of course movie theaters shut down. The movie finally was recently released in select theaters, including my art-house theater here in Cincinnati, fully adhering to all COVID-19 protocols. Not that it mattered, as the Tuesday early evening screening where I saw this at was attended poorly: 2 people (including myself). If you are interested in a hard to classify 'family drama' or simple a fan of Jude Law or Carrie Coon, I'd readily suggest you check this out and draw your own conclusion.

It's the 80's. Ambitious commodities trader Rory O'Hara (Jude Law) returns to London taking his wife Allison (Carrie Coon) and their two kids. He is pushing for a big deal with a big payout. He is spending beyond his means and moves the family again to a country mansion. It causes friction with his wife and exacerbating their money trouble.

I like the idea of this family descending into dysfunction. I find a lot of it very compelling. Law and Coon are delivering intriguing performances. Filmmaker Sean Durkin, who made Martha Marcy May Marlene, is trying to give this film a quiet, naturalistic feel. It does need to be a bit clearer with the beginning. It's just too slow until the money troubles begin. That really raises the intensity and the movie picks up steam. Quite frankly, the start bored me to the point of passing out and I had to start over again. The passive filmmaking style is not conducive to paying attention.