Luke McWilliams gives his review of the 2020 thriller, The Nest, starring Jude Law and Carrie Coon.
In New York during the 1980s, English entrepreneur trader Rory O’Hara (Jude Law) and his American wife, Allison (Carrie Coon), live a middle-class life with their children. Seemingly outgrowing America’s opportunities, Rory convinces his wife to relocate back to England so he may rejoin his old firm.
Rory’s hubris and delusions of grandeur lead him to gamble his family’s safety and happiness for a chance of riches and to re-establish himself in his hometown. Rory relishes the opportunity to show off his perceived American successes, bringing his individualist capitalist methodology into a very traditional and hierarchical society.
While supportive, Allison maintains an independent spirt and critical eye not only on her husband, but of the new situation she and her family are trying to adapt to. Free-spirited and strong-willed, Alison trains horses on the property while the inauthentic Rory rubs shoulders with business leaders and prospective clients in the heart of London, constantly hustling to hide a fragile ego.
Shot like a thriller with a muted David Fincher-esque colour palette, the English countryside and manor look to be part of a gothic horror, complete with apparent hauntings. The English environment seems to rebel against the imposter family, serving as a metaphor of a house built of cards with a rotten core. It is Rory’s incessant striving for more which places him at risk of losing everything.
Verdict: A beautiful looking and well-acted family drama whose thriller tone may mislead audience expectations. 3 stars.
The Nest is screening at Dendy cinemas.
- Luke McWilliams | themovieclub.net
