Normal – Film Review
by R. Sheedy

Director: Ben Wheatley
Starring: Bob Odenkirk, Henry Winkler, Billy McLellan, Lena Headey, Jess McLeod

Ben Wheatley always brings a dose of dark humour to his films, and Normal is no exception. Ostensibly a Bob Odenkirk vehicle, and written by Derek Kolstad (and Bob Odenkirk himself), who also wrote the Nobody films, and the first three John Wick films, there’s something comfortingly familiar about Normal, without it feeling too hackneyed.

It’s a nicely paced story that transposes the cowboy set-up of a sheriff with some dark event in his past, redeeming himself against a larger evil, whilst brushing through a range of genre tropes. There are elements of The Wicker Man, Gremlins and even a reference to Fargo, all of which are drawn together into an enjoyable romp.

Opening with a brief vignette of Yakuza life in Japan, the story sees our compromised hero, Ulysses (Odenkirk), take up the role of interim Sheriff in the remote Minnesota town of Normal, where he’s running from his past whilst also maintaining contact with his wife via rambling voicemails.

From the outset, there’s something not quite right about the town, but Ulysses is keen not to upset the apple cart as interim Sheriff, and as he battles to rediscover his trust in himself, so he lets it flow, even when he senses that something is awry with the death of the previous sheriff.

Gently touching on serious themes – the acceptance of trans people, and child abuse, without allowing them to weigh down the story, the normalcy is all blown away when a bank robbery reveals the town to be a front for Yakuza money, with everyone from the Mayor (the always great Henry Winkler) to the police and shopkeepers involved. Cue an entertainingly comic fight for survival, with Odenkirk teaming up with the hapless bank robbers to survive an onslaught by the citizens.

The violence is well shot, but with wit, and Wheatley makes the mundane as dangerous as the inexpertly wielded weapons, delivering an enjoyably camp action romp. The cast is good too, with Odenkirk ably supported by Jess McLeod, Billy McLellan, Henry Winkler and Lena Headey. Definitely good fun, and nicely set for a sequel. If you enjoyed Nobody, it will feel like a welcome companion piece.