Unhinged

There's an act of violence late in Unhinged that will make you simultaneously want to vomit and cheer. One that shall forever be known as Chekov's candycane. It's probably the most vicious thing you'll see onscreen in 2020 and probably the most satisfying thing too. It's blunt and brutal boot in the mush and a perfect metaphor for this shitshow of a year.

Unhinged. That's a good way to describe Russell Crowe in this 2020 take on the psycho thrillers of the early 90's. He's a terrifying, hulking presence who uses his physicality in a way that will make you rethink ever beeping your horn in traffic again. He plays Tom Cooper, a man who commits a double murder and an act of arson before the credits roll. Credits, remember those? Rachel Hunter (Caren Pistorious) is having a dreadful day even before she has the misfortune to encounter Tom and from then on her day turns nightmarish when he begins to stalk her through the streets of New Orleans like some all knowing four wheeled demon.

Yes. This was good, I liked it a lot. it's not exactly fun but man it's effective. It's a B-movie that knows it's a B-movie. There's no notions here, it's a horror movie in thriller clothing and one that will have you chewing the knuckles off yourself before delivering a climax that ticks all the boxes efficiently and viciously. Once it gets going it never stops, from that first oh no! to that last fuck yeah! it's a crowdpleaser but one that might be too violent for some. Are you an Always Sunny In Philadelphia fan? You might be traumatised, be forewarned. Remember the first Spielberg movie, Duel? There's shades of that here and it takes it's cues from the 1986 horror classic The Hitcher too but a likeable & believable turn from Caren Pistorious and a positively beastly one from Crowe gives Unhinged a personality all of its own. 

That said it is a silly film, replete with scenes of flaming bodies being chucked at cops and final destination style motor way pile ups but it owns it's silliness, revels in it even and it's never not watchable even when Crowe goes full Pacino ham. Watching him tearing down the highway, bleeding up a storm and sneering down a phone is a memorable image. Seeing an A List actor being so unapologetically nasty is always a joy and he makes no attempt to blunt the edges of Tom. He's a bastard who'll always take the most violent way out of any situation. Watching Rachel deal with what life is throwing at her is pleasing too. From stressed out mother in the morning to full on bad motherfucker in the afternoon, her half day arc is gratifying to watch and Pistorious, like Crowe, commits fully to the premise.

The opening credits hint at a reasoning behind Tom's madness and kinda sorta blames Rachel for getting herself into her perilous situation but other than that and one or two snatches of chatter on tvs and radios there's no real attempt at depth or reasoning and tbh the film is all the better for it. It's an unpretentious thrill ride powered by a ferocious turn from Crowe who time this 20 years ago was playing Hollywood hero for the summer. I don't know about you but gimme a down and dirty watch like this anytime.

Unhinged is in cinemas now. 90 minutes of menace that's worth your time.