Prepare for a challenge

Nocturnal Animals is a confronting, complex and deeply thought-provoking film and one that is probably not best suited to a 10.15am cinema session.

This psychological thriller, directed by Tom Ford, is based on a 1993 novel and provides an assault on the senses and mind from the very first scene until the last.

Amy Adams stars as Susan Morrow, a troubled art gallery owner whose past comes back to her when she receives a novel manuscript written by her ex-husband Edward Sheffield.

The film interchanges between showing Susan’s life and the plot of her ex-husband’s novel, Nocturnal Animals, as she reads it.

The story within a story is where the film becomes particularly confronting.

It revolves around Tony Hastings, played by Jake Gyllenhaal, an everyday man who is driven off the road by three men while on a road trip with his wife and daughter.

A confrontation follows which sets the scene for the remainder of the film.

Without revealing too many vital plot details, Tony’s story is regularly interrupted as Susan’s reading of the novel often becomes too much for her to handle due to its graphic nature.

When the book encourages Susan to reflect on her relationship with Edward, we are taken back into the past for glimpses of her earlier life.

It means audiences are effectively having to follow three different plotlines throughout the course of the film and adds to the mental and emotional challenge of watching.

This is by no means an easy film to watch and is in-your-face, psychologically draining and incredibly intense, but is also a worthwhile watch.

The acting, directing and cinematography are all exceptional and it would be no surprise to see Nocturnal Animals at least nominated for the film industry’s top awards.

Prepare yourself to be challenged and confronted, you will appreciate this.