I’m gonna say something a bit controversial. Before I make this bold statement, I want to throw out this friendly reminder that film is art. There by making film objective. Equally in the vein of other mediums like comics, music and video games. Even though, it currently sits at a cool 16% on Rotten Tomatoes critically and a 35% audience score - I rather enjoyed 2017’s The Mummy. Even though, we will most likely never see these characters again. I authentically had a fun time with the movie. If I’m honest, I think it mostly has to do with the fact that I have a sweet spot for Jake Johnson. The chemistry between Tom Cruise and Johnson was something I never thought I’d see. It is something that I’m glad I did get a chance to see, however. Their camaraderie was an overlooked element that the movie provided.
Even though, the movie ventured into camp quite a bit, it did provide some pretty gnarly ideas. One of which was Russel Crowe as Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. We’ve never truly seen a modern day Jekyll and Hyde on the big screen. When you’re doing a movie about monsters, why not get three time Academy Award nominee, and one time official winner, Russel Crowe as the famous doctor. Even more, why not place that famous fable in the center of your universe. Like I said, The Mummy presented great ideas with poor execution. I don’t know about anyone else reading this right now but a world class actor like Crowe taking on a role like Jekyll and Hyde has my attention, easily. He has it more for the crazed Hyde than anything else.
Unfortunately, The Mummy decided to keep the majority of that insanity under wraps. Yes, that was indeed a mummy pun. We technically only got one scene of the transformation and honestly it was one of my favorites. Though where one idea is lost, another filmmaker surely comes right along and gives us viewers what could have been. That filmmaker in question just happens to be Derrick Borte, director behind Crowe’s latest film, Unhinged. Crowe plays a man who gets cut off in traffic and then hunts down the assailant to exact revenge.
As outlandish as the plot may sound, it’s simple, yet effective. That’s what we really counts. Unhinged is everything that you look for in a thriller. Something that will get your anixety on overdrive and lead you to the edge of your seat. My gosh, this movie does not disappoint one bit in that regard. While its’ opening frames give you a taste of how psychtic Crowe really is. It’s the opening credits that get the adrenaline pumping. The credits are spliced together with the increasing real-life stories of road rage and their societal effects. From someone on, who has been an accident or two, this got my anixety juices flowing pretty early in the movie.
The first act attempts to set up some character developments for our protagonist in Rachel, played by Caren Pistorius. I know that character development is massively important. For a film, like this though, it seems like a waste of screen time. A large portion of those characters you meet during these sequences are nothing more than horror tropes. Think early entries into the Friday the 13th franchise. Don’t get me wrong. They prove the extent of Crowe’s rage but are nothing more than that. Cinematic casualities, at best.
Crowe’s performance is quite insane and effective. It almost feels like he knows no bounds. While Unhinged as a whole will fade into obscurity, Crowe’s perofrmance has to be remembered. He’s absolutely brutal, I mean nothing short of a vicous monster. He has to be one of my favorite cinematic antagonists of 2020. I do believe that this film could go down as controversial or face backlash, once it faces wider distribution. So this is the offical trigger warning, there is violence against both women and children. Pistorius holds her own against Crowe with equal intensity. Though, her arc is fascinating to watch unravel. She slowly gives into his madness and it’s a beautiful sight to behold.
Overall, Unhinged is the textbook example of what viewers look for in a thriller. It is a white-knuckle, edge of your seat thrill ride that proves sometimes simplicity is the key to an effective movie. Performances from Russel Crowe and Caren Pistorius don’t hurt either. Crowe will no doubt go down as one of the best cinematic villains of this year. It’s a shame that it won’t be for a more memorable movie. Unhinged has the makings of a movie that will quickly fade as quickly as it cut off its’ passenger. Unhinged is an anxiety ride with a dash of reality and a lot of forgettability.
RORSCHACH RATING:
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Victims and Villains is written Josh "Captain Nostalgia" Burkey (and produced by), Caless Davis, Dan Rockwood, & Brandon Miller. Music by Mallory Johnson and others. Unhinged is property of Solstice Studios. We do not own nor claim any rights. Unhinged is now playing in select theaters nationwide.
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