The Nest

"The Nest" (2020 release from the UK; 106 min.) brings the story of Rory and his wife Allison and their kids Samantha (14) and Benjamin (10). As the movie opens, we are in New York and watch "a day in the life" of this family. Next morning, Rory has news: he has a great job opportunity in London (where he hails from). Allison reluctantly agrees, and soon the family arrives in the UK at their new place in Surrey, a massive 17th century mansion. It's not long before tension rises... At this point we are 15 min. into the film but to tell you more of the plot would spoil your viewing experience, you'll just have to see for yourself how it al plays out.

Couple of comments: this is the second feature-length film from writer-director Sean Durkin, who previously gave us the excellent "Martha Marcy May Marlene". Here he examines the consequences of uprooting a family from their familiar New York surroundings to a brand new and unfamiliar environment in the UK. This movie is plot-heavy and hence I'm not going to say a whole lot more, although I will say this: I found this movie classify, as it covers a number of different areas, although a generic 'family drama' could cover it. Also, the movie is set in the 1980s: there is reference to "President Reagan" on the radio, and 1980s music is a-plentiful including the Thompson Twins, the Cure, and many others. What I thought at the end of the film was this: "Money's Too Tight (To Mention)", the 1985 hit by Simply Red. Why? Just watch! Jude Law (as Rory) is excellent once again (he currently stars in the HBO mini-series "The Third Day"), and the same goes for Carrie Coon (for Allison). Beware: there are a few scenes in the movie involving horses that you may find difficult to stomach (I looked away).

"The Nest" premiered at this year's Sundance Film Festival (yea, pre-COVID-19) to good buzz. Then of course movie theaters shut down. The movie finally was recently released in select theaters, including my art-house theater here in Cincinnati, fully adhering to all COVID-19 protocols. Not that it mattered, as the Tuesday early evening screening where I saw this at was attended poorly: 2 people (including myself). If you are interested in a hard to classify 'family drama' or simple a fan of Jude Law or Carrie Coon, I'd readily suggest you check this out and draw your own conclusion.

How can any one make his or her family move locations 4 times within a 10- year timeframe? Let alone move overseas with a horse? That poor horse portrayed the stress and trauma of the downfall of the parents. Moving requires the kids to be uprooted, costly, change of schools, making new friends, etc. As the mom, she could have said to her husband, "go to London and figure out your plan." But we wouldn't have this movie then. The mom never seemed to be at home with kids nor had her own career; yet she hid her own money for her own emergencies knowing that her husband is an over spender and superficial hedonistic possibly narcissistic delusional person pretending to be rich while drowning in debt:. I think, his wife, Allison is equally at fault for agreeing to move the 4th time while pretending her husband, Rory doesn't have a problem. Hello, did she not live with this guy for the past 15 years (having a teenage daughter and 10 year old). I know some jobs like the military and many other job require household moves but that would all be expected already and paid for by those organizations.

IN BRIEF: A well acted but inconclusive psychological study.

JIM'S REVIEW: (RECOMMENDED) Change is not always a good thing. A little known independent film called The Nest proves that point rather well. Director / writer Sean Durkin sets an ominous tone from the onset in this psychological study about a family coming undone with their abrupt relocation from America to the UK. To say that the move does not go well is an understatement.

Rory O'Hara and his lovely wife, Allison, live the perfect storybook life. He is a rich trader and she is his pampered trophy wife caught in 80's opulence and living the good life. All seems well enough on the surface with the O'Hara's until Rory decides to head back to his hometown of London and uproot his family. One small problem: Rory is a grifter and liar and he and his family will be forced to make the ultimate sacrifices due to his overt actions.

The family dynamic is odd from the start. Unexplained circumstances occur with some subtle but mostly heavy-handed symbolism (a dark horse buried and suddenly exhumed, an expensive fur coat showing personal greed and wealth, doors unable to lock, hidden cigarette butts indicating rebellion, a wool sweater showing character enabling, etc.). The on-going tension slowly builds and personality traits morph these characters into totally different individuals,: Samantha (Oona Roche) becomes the defiant teenage daughter, Ben (Charlie Shotwell) morphs into a introverted young boy and the husband/wife tag team, expertly played by Jude Law and Carrie Coons, become a warring tribe sorting through all of their self-centered behaviors. Mr. Durkin's screenplay establishes its tone most effectively, but only hints at the betrayals and destructive behaviors of this family. Scenes of more direct conflict could have created to produce a more concise family portrait.

Still most of the film is atmospheric and engaging due to Sean Durkin's fine direction and the acting of Mr. Law and Ms. Coons as the battling spouses. They are very good in their roles and bring their characters' self-indulgences and bitternesses centerstage. Their explosive scenes are terrific when they finally arrive as they snipe and rage at each other, but they are rarely viewed. Most of their inner anger stays within, always simmering to the top, yet rarely brims over. As their children, both Ms. Roche and Mr. Shotwell are totally convincing as pawns in their parent's gamesmanship.

The Nest is a special type of film, more for those moviegoers interested in psychological tension, creepy atmosphere, and well-define characters than a plot-driven story with definite results. Despite much to admire, this nest is a tad empty. (GRADE: B-)

It was raining so I decided to take a chance on this film. I shouldn't have bothered about it. It was slow and boring. The disintegration of a yuppie marriage. That was it,nothing more and a total bore.

It would be impossible for me to rate this file. My wife and I chose to watch this film looking for thriller. It turned out to be anything but. If I had to classify this film, I would call it psychological character study. As this is not what we expected to see, we spent the whole time wondering when the thriller elements would begin. When the ending credits started, we thought it was a complete waste of time and regretted not picking something else. If it was properly classified, it might be an excellent film. It might rate a 7 or more. If you expected a thriller as we did this would rate a 0 or 1 which is something I would never do.