8/10 stolen beach bikes.

Rating: 8/10 (27 April 2020)

"That's my job, that's what I do, I'd like to think if you're seeing me you're having the worst day of your life." ðŸ“¹
Cut from the same sociopathic cloth as Travis Bickle and Patrick Bateman in this wickedly entertaining neo-noir, Jake Gyllenhaal's chilling-yet-charming turn as the supremely narcissistic Lou Bloom oozes dread the second he appears on screen, but compels and dares us to sympathise with a hustle culture anti-hero gone wrong, a true movie monster for the 21st century. Much like the picture's scathing depiction of modern-day mainstream media, filmgoers find themselves glued and unable to look away from its at times grotesque and confronting imagery, thanks to some slick filmmaking from first-time director Dan Gilroy, alongside real wife Rene Russo, and his tight screenplay's smart social commentary permeated with a sick sense of humour, not to mention an intensely moody atmosphere and teeth-clenching sequences. Audiences have prayed to never cross this sort of cold stringer haunting Los Angeles by night since 2014, even if riding shotgun as Riz Ahmed's understated Rick or working alongside the legendary Bill Paxton seems like so much fun.