‘Every kidnap is a compromise’
Windfall is a 2022 American crime thriller about a robber who takes a tech billionaire and his wife hostage in their luxury vacation home.
Directed by Charlie McDowell (The One I Love; The Discovery) from a screenplay written by Justin Lader and Andrew Kevin Walker, based on a story by Jason Segel. Produced by Lily Collins, Charlie McDowell, Duncan Montgomery, Alex Orlovsky, Jesse Plemons, Jason Segel and Jack Selby.
The High Frequency Entertainment-Mutressa Movies movie stars Jesse Plemons, Lily Collins, Jason Segel and Omar Leyva.
Plot:
When arrogant tech billionaire (Jesse Plemons) and his wife (Lily Collins) arrive at their idyllic vacation home they discover it’s being robbed by a bungling burglar (Jason Segel)…
Reviews:
“If there isn’t much plot here, there should be more character, but Windfall wants to remain such an enigmatic tease that it doesn’t really budge with much characterization, either. Admirably, it does slowly darken but then comes to a close just as it’s beginning to get tense and devious. Windfall isn’t a total waste as a slight if skillfully played lark…” C+ The Artful Critic
“The waiting game for a bag of cash shifts gets intense in the final act, which isn’t smoothly handled by McDowell, but he doesn’t lose control of the feature. Windfall becomes something else in its final moments, growing much darker, and such a tonal leap is more jarring then thrilling, but it’s certainly not a deal-breaker, especially when Segel, Collins, and Plemons really sink their teeth into the acting opportunity, embracing the shades of gray they’re offered.” 7/10 Blu-ray.com
“Windfall embodies a classic noir suspense story, fraught with some incredible character performances from Jesse Plemons, Lily Collins, and Jason Segel. Charlie McDowell brings together a gripping story that is not only brilliantly shot, but the score adds a whole other level to the apprehensive tone. It’s 90 minutes of teeth grinding, and microaggressions with an explosive twist at the end of it all.” 9/10 But Why Tho?
“When it comes to the plot and the story, the film falters a bit, because it doesn’t really do anything new or fresh. From the moment the inciting incident occurs, it is clear what will happen in the next hour. Being predictable isn’t a bad thing, but sometimes being too predictable can deter from other aspects of the film. So all the great acting seems to be in favor of a story that we have seen many times before.” 7/10 Fiction Horizon
“Windfall feels like a story designed around its ending only for the filmmakers to work backward, filling in all the gaps. It has some terrific screen presence from everyone involved trying to bring the scenario to life within a beautiful setting of a fancy house and garden but is also too one-note and stagnant to maintain investment beyond wondering how it’s going to end. And even that eventually becomes predictable.” Flickering Myth
“The strong, small cast does a great job and the first half is very entertaining. I can’t help but be irritated by that third act, but then the amazing final minutes came which saved a lot. Just not everything and this movie clearly had the potential for much more. Windfall is a movie worth watching for its strong style and brilliant performances. And yes, that is enough, but only just.” Heaven of Horror
“While the guessing game appears to be fun at first, you quickly lose patience as the plot becomes monotonous. However, the performances and the ending make up for the story’s patience requirements. The underlying message of the rich have it all, and normal people are nobody becomes quite evident often.” 7/10 Leisure Byte
“Views have become radicalized in all senses and that extremity is the secret ingredient to the boiling point that Windfall slowly marches towards. It may be a film that compromises itself too much at times but when it delves into its ideas and world, it shines as an offbeat and tense Hitchcockian thriller with a timely touch.” 4/5 Loud and Clear
” …Windfall does eventually make a choice in terms of its tone and take a stand on the side of at least one character here. It’s a cynical and surprisingly ruthless turn, but considering the stakes of this specific situation and the battle of philosophies on display, that’s the only way it could go.” Mark Reviews Movies
“Missing is that tight claustrophobic feeling that any good contained thriller should have, even though the action largely takes place in one location.The shape of a conclusion, in which Nobody is given his money and he leaves, is established pretty early on but it’s a comedy of errors from that point. Coming up with new ways to stall such an easy transaction does get silly after a while…” 3.5/5 Punch Drunk Critics
” …Windfall maintains a mysterious ambiguity that’s compelling—until it isn’t. That’s in part due to the hammering class critique, which takes up so much of the characters’ interactions and is so bluntly rendered that it has little impact. Similarly, the arbitrary and unearned nature of the film’s concluding spasm of violence saps it of any intended sting or satirical potency.” Slant
“Having a single location is absolutely perfect and they make best use of the available space, shooting both indoors and outdoors. It’s very minimal for a thriller but I don’t mind because the filmmakers are making the best of the situation at hand […] Windfall runs a tight hour and a half and it’s every bit a thriller from start to finish even as the film has something to say about income inequality.” 4/5 Solzy at the Movies
Release:
Windfall is available for streaming on Netflix worldwide from March 18th 2022.
Background:
Lily Collins said: “The story really exposes all three of us. We’re all flawed, and the story showcases and starts to unearth how those flaws come about and that none of us is innocent. And I feel like it is about choice and the choices we make and the choices we don’t make and how that does set you off on a very specific path.”
Filming locations:
Ojai, California
Technical details:
1 hour 32 minutes
Audio: Dolby Digital
Aspect ratio: 2.39: 1
Related:
Trailer:
