Jan X

This movie made me feel glad to be alive. If you’re expecting a fast paced zombie vibe/post apocalyptic action movie, you are setting yourself up for not enjoying this film. This film is at its core, a mashup: a tense survivalist tale, and an exploration/celebration of love one has for their family, and how tenacious it can be. That being said, it’s slow but the action sequences are extremely tense yet satisfying. The violence is “History of Violence”-style violence. The overlying feeling of dread is palpable. But what’s important-what shines brightest-is the authentic and memorable dialog and austere performances of both leads. Affleck doles out a incredible Spencer Tracy style, natural performance. You never once catch him acting. We see his male lead character’s calm, stoic reserve literally deteriorate before our eyes in the last hour. I’ve never seen an anxiety attack so accurately depicted on screen, and this one lasts for an hour. You are right there with him. It’s delightfully suspenseful. But the main theme is how beautiful and heartwarming their father daughter relationship is. The female lead is so complex, even when delivering (accurately plausible) childish/silly lines. Outstanding dialog and epic, rich visuals really make this a must see. Just know that the focus is the main characters and their relationship. Lots of heartfelt, touching scenes composed entirely of the two of them talking. You’re immersed in their isolated, overcautious world. There are “Taken” undertones throughout, which really explode at the end of the film. I laughed out loud, screamed at the screen, grabbed a weapon to cradle, cried a little. Get ready for a roller coaster ride. A must watch (if you have patience).