Nocturnal Animals

Fashion-designer-turned-writer-director Tom Ford's marital thriller centers on a divorced couple who discover dark truths about their tortured relationship. The opening credit sequence is bizarre, featuring obese, naked, middle-aged women writhing in billowing glitter as part of an installation at an elite Los Angeles art gallery opening, curated by Susan Morrow (Amy Adams). Afterwards, Susan's emotionally distant husband (Armie Hammer), a WASP financier, jets off to New York for an adulterous liaison—under the pretext of saving his failing business. So Susan curls up on a couch in their luxurious, modernist mansion in the Hollywood Hills to read the manuscript of a new book, Nocturnal Animals, sent by her ex-husband Edward Sheffield (Jake Gyllenhaal), who dedicates it to her since she's a chronic insomniac. The fictitious noir melodrama revolves around Tony Hastings (now-bearded Gyllenhaal) who, driving his Mercedes from Dallas to Marfa, takes a wrong turn and is ambushed on a deserted highway by three amped-up yokels who kidnap his wife (Isla Fisher) and teenage daughter (Ellie Bamber). Working with a West Texas lawman (Oscar nominee Michael Shannon), Tony reconstructs the terrifying violence and brutality that transpired late that night. Obviously a commentary on Edward's marriage to Susan, the novel causes her to reflect on and re-evaluate both her past and present relationships. Adapted from Austin Wright's 1993 novel Tony and Susan, this is a sleek and sophisticated thriller focusing on surreal passion and suspenseful revenge. Recommended. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include a three-part “making-of” featurette with “Building the Story,” “The Look,” and “The Filmmaker's Eye: Tom Ford” (11 min.), and trailers. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release are bonus DVD, digital, and UltraViolet copies of the film. Bottom line: a small extras package for a solid sexy thriller.] (S. Granger)