“Bonnie And Clyde” and lovers on the lam narratives never cease to compel and fascinate us, perhaps because doing something naughty, illegal or perverse in the name of love is strangely really f*cking romantic. There’s a propulsion—the “on the run” side of things—that usually drives these tales, but when you ground it to a halt with a one-location detour, and add an equally transgressive romantic pair to the mix you can get some surprisingly interesting results. Directors Dan Berk and Robert Olsen employ and flip the familiarity of the recognizable story, while still showcasing their affection for the genre, to deliver us “Villains”—a Hansel and Gretel style thriller that’s high in energy, deliriously fun, rich in character and delicious in its scenery-chewing performances. Seriously, there hasn’t been this twisted a riff on Bonnie and Clyde like this in ages.
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After sloppily robbing a convenience store, Mickey (Bill Skarsgard) and Jules (Maika Monroe) find themselves on the run with the dream of heading south to start fresh and build a new life. However, when their car dies, the two lovers break into a nearby house in search of a new ride which ends up turning the “on the run” design on its head. What they find instead, is a dark secret hidden away by a couple of seemingly affable Southern charmers, Gloria and George, (Kyra Sedgwick and Jeffrey Donovan) who will stop at nothing to prevent its exposure.
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Berk and Olsen wisely emulate the heightened and manic energy of the main characters through a breakneck pace, sharp script and quippy exchanges embedding the audience further into the mad reality of the two couples. The writer/directors take what is seemingly a straightforward home invasion film and turn the genre on its head; the intruders become the captives faced with contrasting versions of themselves should the scale be tipped to the extreme in this escapist game of wits. And while watching how these characters outsmart one another— leaping over the many familiar hurdles presented along their pathway— is darkly comedic, “Villains” is truthfully a character piece that takes us inside the twisted minds of these couples examining the lengths they will go to in the name of love.
Undervalued performers, Jeffrey Donovan and Kyra Sedgwick light up the screen with their warped sense of love. The two toxically serve one another, committing atrocities left and right in a crusade to prove their affection. We get a sense of their psychopathic past through several captivating exchanges. Donovan especially is an exceptional stand out with his cool, confident ability to smooth talk his way out of any situation while simultaneously broadcasting an intimidating presence. It’s the perfect counterbalance to the frighteningly crazed Sedgwick whose traumatic past has transformed her into an unpredictable, volatile character. Sedgwick and Donovan are certainly the most textured characters in play, but Skarsgard and Monroe’s aren’t without their fair share of show-stopping moments either.
As opposed to the elder pair, Mickey and Jules offer an alternative look at the renegade lovers— one that carries a much more intimate and relatable impact. This couple, while not without their fair share of mistakes, have somewhat of a moral code that is only strengthened when held captive. In the older psychotic duo, the Mickey and Jules see their dark fate reflected at them should they continue this life of crime.
Skarsgard has always been somewhat of a character actor with roles like Pennywise cementing this notion, but in “Villains” the “IT” actor is finally given a role he can sink his teeth into. Showcasing incredible versatility, Skarsgard delivers a performance with raw charisma and range, highlighting some impressive comedic chops and vulnerability. While there isn’t much depth to the character, Skarsgard uses that to his advantage, exploring a sandbox of possibilities and inherently making the performance his own. Likewise, Monroe matches Skarsgard’s energy allowing for frenetic chemistry to flow and serve to illustrate the intimate connection and understanding the lovers share (seen beautifully through a cute act called a “carwash”). Triggered by the secret they uncover, Monroe expertly conveys how her character’s own traumatic past relates to this situation. This dash of backstory tastefully seasons Jules’ arc delivering just the right amount of character motivation needed to satisfy.
A darkly comedic character deconstruction, “Villains” highlights the filmmakers’ fondness for the Bonnie and Clyde legend, while doubling the fun, the immorality and spinning the tropes of a home invasion story upside down. “Villains” is wacky off the walls fun and it constructs a solid sandbox for its actors to play in and deliver four colorfully captivating performances about the shades and degrees of human wickedness. [B+]
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOmD9CcvKJg
