Mississippi Grindmeets Willard’s diary from Apocalypse Now via Nicola Winding Refn, in a way, but you have to sprinkle the depression and emptiness of a personal Zero Dark Thirty-ish, a sliver of hope, that must be stamped out by the boot of existence that Schrader diligently wears. A lingering sorrowful cinematic exhale as a naturalness & likability combat the pervasive existential angst and soul consuming stalk.
Schrader and Isaac have a way and you will feel it all, sweetly and oh so sourly. The distinct tones paired with exhausting terror; it instills chills. The tightly mannered character, played with precision by Isaac, is juxtaposed with the tortured memories of his military nefariousness. It’s all so gutting and powerful. The film as a whole, like much of Schrader’s work, is likeable but difficult to consume. Nonetheless, a terrific film.