If you are a movie buff you would agree that this century’s cinematic defining moments have been created by independent film-makers. One could think of Little Miss Sunshine and Black Swan in the US, and Filth and In the Loop in the UK. I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore is the height of capturing the general feeling of our generation and the tragic hilarity of our times (as opposed to the angst or ennui of previous eras) with its edgy humour. The title on its own reiterates what most of us think each day dealing with the inept politicians in ruining the future of the planet and the incompetence of law-enforcement authorities in protecting the vulnerable and those in need. If you actually don’t feel at home in this world anymore (and who could blame you?) then this film is for you.
I Don’t Feel I Home in This World Anymore is a comedy thriller written and directed by Macon Blair (born 1974). Macon’s directorial début premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2017 and won the Grand Jury Prize for the dramatic category. It is very well-received by the film critics and scores at 88% on Rotten Tomatoes. With an IMDB rating of 6.9, the movie has been very appealing to the general public as well. The film was released in February 2017 by Netflix and is one of the gems available in its movie catalogue.
Ruth (Melanie Lynskey) is a nurse in a dead-beat town with rude and mean people. The movie starts with the harshness of Ruth’s life both as a nurse and as a citizen mixed with hilarious moments. Whilst the film offers funny jokes and situations, most of the hilarious moments are those that are absurd but actually factual, occurring in this day and age on a daily basis. After having a horrid day, Ruth comes home, and is robbed of her laptop, her medication, and her grandmother’s silverware, whilst she is actually at home. Having dealt with incompetent police officers, Ruth ventures with a new-found friend, Tony (Elijah Wood) on the path of regaining her possessions. But things aren’t as straightforward as you may imagine.
The Netflix original offers a treasure of action-packed scenes, well-executed comedic acting, and biting, hilarious dialogues. I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore is not as much as a celebration, but a mourning of the ineptitude and incompetence of our world. From the police officers to the shopkeepers, from parents to thieves, they are all incompetent. Even the leads are helplessly awkward (the Up in The Air actor, Melanie Lynskey is very well-known for her portrayal of quirky and flawed individuals), and are leading characters not for their merits (they are alright), but for their success in not failing as tragically as the rest of the world. This is a Netflix movie to watch and enjoy on a Friday evening. There are gory scenes, but they don’t come across as disturbing as they are intentionally designed to excise laughter and shock, rather than just shock! The movie leaves its viewers in pure satisfaction, most of whom don’t feel they belong in this world anymore.
Watch the HD trailer for I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore: