A few years have passed since director Jennifer Kent unveiled her horror masterpiece THE BABADOOK on audiences, and in those years film fans have been eager to see what she cooks up next. Her latest movie, THE NIGHTINGALE, tells the tale of a different, heavier and more real kind of terror when a young woman seeks revenge against the men who assaulted her. The movie premiered at Sundance and now you can all get a glimpse at one of the most talked-about movies of the festival, starring Aisling Franciosi, Sam Claflin, Michael Sheasby, Damon Herriman and Baykali Ganambarr.
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Our own Chris Bumbray saw the movie while at Sundance, and while it may have been a hard watch for many in attendance, he hailed it as the best movie out of the festival. In his glowing 10/10 review, he wrote, “THE NIGHTINGALE is without a shadow of a doubt not for everyone. Many people will be absolutely horrified by it, and its polarizing audiences here at the fest. To me though, it’s a staggering work, putting Jennifer Kent on the map as one of the great directors out there.”
The trailer alone looks to live up to what Bumbray wrote, as plenty is teased that may cause knots in your stomach. But other reviews in the trailer tease a movie that’s just as beautiful and atmospheric as it is tough to watch. As Kent demonstrated with THE BABADOOK she has no problem leaning into dark territory, but in a way that has some emotional resonance and ties to very palpable human themes. So as our critic said if this is something you think you can stomach then it looks like this is one to catch should it make its way to a theater near you.
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Here’s the synopsis:
THE NIGHTINGALE is a meditation on the consequences of violence and the price of seeking vengeance. Set during the colonization of Australia in 1825, the film follows Clare (Aisling Franciosi), a 21-year-old Irish convict. Having served her 7-year sentence, she is desperate to be free of her abusive master, Lieutenant Hawkins (Sam Claflin) who refuses to release her from his charge. Clare’s husband Aidan (Michael Sheasby) retaliates and she becomes the victim of a harrowing crime at the hands of the lieutenant and his cronies. When British authorities fail to deliver justice, Clare decides to pursue Hawkins, who leaves his post suddenly to secure a captaincy up north.
THE NIGHTINGALE is in theaters August 2.