The film ‘Nocturnal Animals’ is a 2016 psychological thriller directed by Tom Ford. It tells the dual story of an art gallery owner, Susan, who reads a violent manuscript written by her ex-husband, Edward. She interprets the novel as a symbolic and vengeful allegory for their failed marriage and her past actions.
Few films get under your skin quite like Tom Ford’s Nocturnal Animals. This suspenseful psychological thriller is a powerful story about love, loss, and revenge, all presented with stunning visuals. Its two separate storylines—one in a glamorous but sad reality, the other in a brutal, gritty fictional world—create a tension you can feel, leaving you thinking about its deeper meanings long after the movie ends.
If you’ve watched this intense film and still have questions, or if you’re thinking about watching it, you’re in the right place. Here at IWatchMovies Blog, we’re taking a close look at the Nocturnal Animals movie. This article provides a full Nocturnal Animals review of its great acting, beautiful cinematography, and expert directing. Then, we will carefully break down its famously confusing ending.
We’ll explain the symbolism and emotion in each scene to help you understand the story’s true meaning. We will also look at what that final, unforgettable moment really means. So, is this dark and artistic film worth your time? Let’s explore if Nocturnal Animals is a modern classic or just a stylish movie made to feel unsettling.
Is Nocturnal Animals a good film?
A Brief, Spoiler-Free Summary
Nocturnal Animals is a gripping psychological thriller that weaves together two different stories. The first is about Susan Morrow, a wealthy Los Angeles art gallery owner. Her life looks glamorous but feels empty and cold. One day, she gets a manuscript from her ex-husband, Edward Sheffield, who she hasn’t seen in years.
The novel, called “Nocturnal Animals,” is dedicated to Susan. As she reads, a brutal and violent story unfolds about a family’s horrifying road trip in West Texas. This fictional story deeply disturbs Susan. It makes her face her past choices and reveals troubling truths about her relationship with Edward. The film expertly mixes fiction and reality, creating a very unsettling experience.
Performance, Cinematography, and Direction
The artistry in Nocturnal Animals makes it more than just a typical thriller. Director Tom Ford, known for his great sense of style, directs the film beautifully.
- Performances:
- Amy Adams gives a very detailed performance. She perfectly shows Susan’s inner conflict and quiet sadness.
- Jake Gyllenhaal is excellent in two roles. He plays both the author, Edward, and the novel’s sad main character, Tony Hastings. You can really feel his raw emotion.
- Aaron Taylor-Johnson was praised by critics for his threatening role as Ray Marcus, the gang leader in the novel [1]. His performance is chilling and hard to forget.
- Michael Shannon gives a solid and intense performance as Detective Bobby Andes. He adds a gritty realism to the novel’s drama.
- Cinematography:
- The cinematography by Seamus McGarvey is stunning. He uses strong visual differences between the two stories.
- Susan’s world is shown with cold, clean shots and muted colors.
- In contrast, the world inside the novel is filmed with a raw, emotional feeling, using warmer and grittier colors.
- These different visual styles reflect the film’s themes and add to the emotional impact of each scene.
- Direction:
- Tom Ford’s direction is stylish and unsettling. He skillfully blends the two stories.
- Ford creates a feeling of dread that lasts throughout the film. His careful attention to detail shows in every shot.
- He uses powerful images and symbols. This makes the
nocturnal animals moviemore than just a typical thriller.
Final Verdict: Our Nocturnal Animals Review
Is Nocturnal Animals a good film? Absolutely. It’s a visually stunning and very thought-provoking cinematic experience. The film goes beyond the usual thriller. It looks deep into the human mind, exploring ideas like revenge, regret, and the harm caused by doing nothing.
The complex plot requires your full attention. Viewers who pay close attention will find it rewarding. The strong cast anchors the film’s emotional weight, while the direction and cinematography pull you into its world. The dark themes and disturbing scenes may not be for everyone, but the film offers a powerful message. Overall, our nocturnal animals review finds it to be a compelling and artistic film. We highly recommend it for viewers looking for a challenging and memorable movie. The movie holds an impressive 74% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes [2].
What was the whole point of the movie Nocturnal Animals?
Exploring the Core Themes: Revenge, Regret, and Art
Nocturnal Animals is a complex psychological thriller that explores deep human feelings. The main themes are revenge, regret, and the power of art.
- Revenge: Edward’s novel is a powerful tool for revenge. He uses the fictional story to channel his past pain and cause Susan emotional torment. It’s a mental game of revenge, not a physical one.
- Regret: Susan’s rich but empty life is a sharp contrast to the choices she made in the past. She feels deep regret for leaving Edward. Her luxurious life now feels hollow as she realizes the impact of her decisions.
- Art: The novel in the film becomes a character of its own. It is a powerful way for Edward to express himself and deal with his pain. The art here also mirrors real life, reflecting both the creator’s suffering and the reader’s own thoughts [source: Criterion Collection].
In the end, the film asks if old wounds can ever really heal and shows how destructive it can be when things are left unsaid.
The Story-Within-a-Story Explained
A key part of Nocturnal Animals is the novel Edward sends to Susan. The book, also called “Nocturnal Animals,” is a violent thriller. It pulls Susan into a terrifying fictional world that leaves her very shaken.
The novel is about a man named Tony Hastings (played by Jake Gyllenhaal). After his family is attacked by thugs in rural Texas, his wife, Laura (Isla Fisher), and daughter, Helen (Ellie Bamber), are kidnapped. They are later found murdered. With the help of Detective Bobby Andes (Michael Shannon), Tony seeks justice. This search for revenge is both difficult and deeply personal.
The novel’s tone is harsh and unforgiving, describing a terrible experience. This intense story forces Susan to face her own hidden fears.
Connecting Susan’s Reality to the Novel’s Fiction
The novel “Nocturnal Animals” is more than just a story. It’s a metaphor for the pain Edward felt after Susan left him. Susan seems to understand this right away. Every character and event in the book is a symbol that connects back to their shared past.
- Tony Hastings as Edward: Tony’s seeming weakness and failure to protect his family mirror how Edward felt. Susan once called Edward “weak” and didn’t believe he was strong enough to succeed.
- Laura and Helen as Susan and Their Child: The violent kidnapping and murder of Tony’s wife and daughter represent Edward’s deep sense of loss. Susan had an abortion after leaving him, an act that crushed Edward [source: The Hollywood Reporter]. Their deaths in the book symbolize the death of Edward’s love and his hope for a future with Susan.
- The Texas Setting: The empty, violent setting in the novel mirrors Susan’s own cold and lonely life. It also represents the emotional wasteland Edward felt after they broke up. This harsh world is a major contrast to Susan’s polished but emotionally empty life.
- The Title “Nocturnal Animals”: The title itself seems to be about Susan. She suffers from insomnia and is often awake at night, haunted by regret. Edward’s novel paints her as a creature of the night, living in a dark and lonely state.
Through this clever story-within-a-story, Edward tells Susan exactly how much he suffered. He makes sure she feels the full impact of what she did. The novel is his way of using art to reveal his deepest anguish.
What was the ending of Nocturnal Animals supposed to mean?
Final Verdict: Our Nocturnal Animals Review
Is Nocturnal Animals a good film? Absolutely. It’s a visually stunning and very thought-provoking cinematic experience, making it a standout in our collection of Individual Movie Reviews. The film goes beyond the usual thriller. It looks deep into the human mind, exploring ideas like revenge, regret, and the harm caused by doing nothing.
The complex plot requires your full attention. Viewers who pay close attention will find it rewarding. The strong cast anchors the film’s emotional weight, while the direction and cinematography pull you into its world. The dark themes and disturbing scenes may not be for everyone, but the film offers a powerful message. Overall, our nocturnal animals review finds it to be a compelling and artistic film. We highly recommend it for viewers looking for a challenging and memorable movie. The movie holds an impressive 74% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes [2].
Where can I watch the Nocturnal Animals movie?
Is Nocturnal Animals on Netflix?
Many people check Netflix first for popular movies. As of early 2024, the Nocturnal Animals movie is not available on Netflix in the U.S. or most other countries [source: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/nocturnal-animals]. Since the Netflix library changes often, it’s always a good idea to check the platform directly.
But even if it’s not on Netflix, the movie is still easy to watch. You have several other options, which usually let you choose between renting or buying it.
Other Streaming and Rental Options
Fortunately, the Nocturnal Animals movie is available on many other platforms. You can typically rent or buy the film from several popular services.
Consider checking these options to watch the movie:
- Amazon Prime Video: A popular choice for renting or buying a wide range of films, including Nocturnal Animals.
- Apple TV (iTunes): Offers high-quality movie rentals and purchases.
- Google Play Movies & TV: An easy way to rent or buy the film on Android devices or your web browser.
- YouTube: You can also rent or purchase movies directly on the YouTube platform.
- Vudu: Known for a large library where you can rent, buy, or sometimes watch titles for free with ads.
- Microsoft Store: The main option for renting or buying movies on Windows and Xbox devices.
Rentals usually cost between $3.99 and $4.99, while buying the film is often $12.99 to $19.99. These prices can change, so it’s best to compare services to find the best deal [source: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/nocturnal_animals/where_to_watch]. Always check if the movie is available in your country, as options can vary by region.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the twist in Nocturnal Animals?
The main “twist” in the Nocturnal Animals movie is not a sudden surprise. Instead, the twist is the meaning behind the novel Edward sends to his ex-wife, Susan. The book, also called “Nocturnal Animals,” is a violent story about revenge. It’s a metaphor for how Edward saw Susan, their failed marriage, and her betrayal. The novel is his way of criticizing her for her choices and emotional cruelty. The terrible events in the story are symbolic. They show his deep pain and how she made him feel weak. The real twist is that the novel itself is his final act of revenge.
Who is the killer in Nocturnal Animals?
This question has two answers, depending on which part of the story you are looking at:
- Within Edward’s Novel: The main villain and killer is Ray Marcus. He is a terrifying character who attacks Tony Hastings’s family. He murders Tony’s wife, Laura, and his daughter, India. Ray represents the destructive pain Edward feels Susan caused in his life.
- In Susan’s Reality: There is no actual killer. Instead, the novel “Nocturnal Animals” symbolically kills Susan’s peace of mind. Edward uses his story to attack the part of her that dismissed his dreams. He wants to force her to face her past actions. The film also suggests that Susan “killed” Edward’s spirit when she left him.
So, the “killer” has more than one meaning. It is both a real villain in the book and a symbol for the destruction of love and ambition in Susan’s life.
What is Nocturnal Animals about on Netflix?
As of late 2023 and early 2024, the Nocturnal Animals movie is not on Netflix in most countries. If it were, the description would focus on its two connecting storylines. The film is about Susan Morrow, a rich but unhappy art gallery owner. She receives a shocking manuscript from Edward Sheffield, the ex-husband she has not seen in years. The novel, “Nocturnal Animals,” is dedicated to her. It tells the terrifying story of a man named Tony Hastings, whose family road trip turns into a violent nightmare. As Susan reads, she is horrified but cannot put the book down. The story forces her to think about her past with Edward, and the line between the book’s violence and her own pain begins to blur. The movie explores themes of love, loss, revenge, and regret.
Are Nocturnal Animals worth watching?
Absolutely, yes. Nocturnal Animals is a gripping film that will make you think. It was a big hit with critics when it was released. The film has a 74% rating on Rotten Tomatoes [2]. It also earned an Academy Award nomination for Michael Shannon’s great performance. Here’s why this nocturnal animals review says it’s a must-watch:
- Beautiful Directing: Director Tom Ford has a stunning visual style. The movie looks beautiful, and every scene is carefully crafted.
- Powerful Performances: Amy Adams and Jake Gyllenhaal give intense and complex performances. Michael Shannon, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Isla Fisher are also excellent.
- Engaging Story: The two storylines are cleverly woven together. The plot keeps you guessing and wondering how they connect.
- Deep Themes: The film explores big ideas like revenge, regret, art, and the consequences of our choices.
- Unforgettable Ending: The film’s unclear ending sparks a lot of discussion and stays with you long after it’s over.
If you like psychological thrillers that have artistic style, Nocturnal Animals is a must-see.
