| Out of the Blue | |
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 Film poster | |
| Directed by | Neil LaBute |
| Written by | Neil LaBute |
| Produced by |
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| Distributed by | Quiver Distribution |
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| Running time | 104 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Out of the Blue is a 2022 American thriller film written and directed by Neil LaBute and starring Diane Kruger and Ray Nicholson.
Plot
Connor Bates lives in the basement of his mother’s house in a small American coastal town. He works in the local library, which, by his own admission, is the only place that would have him due to his record. Connor has been in prison for three years on an assault charge. Besides navigating the labyrinthine library aisles and enduring his probation officer’s Jock tirades about tardiness, he’s a dedicated jogger pounding the pavement along the coast.
That is how he meets Marilyn, the femme fatale of the story. A splash of scarlet against the deserted beach: Connor can’t help but notice the woman in the bright red swimsuit. Introductions are made, and a current of flirtation crackles between them. The connection between Marilyn and Connor is immediate. Marilyn is married to a wealthy businessman, and she has a stepdaughter, Astrid.
In the many subsequent rendezvouses, Marilyn gradually confides in Connor. Her husband beats her and is also abusive towards his own daughter. Their secret meetings fan the flames of desire. With each encounter, the physical tension between them intensifies, threatening to erupt into something more. Meanwhile, a colleague at the library named Kim also seems to like Connor. Kim tells Connor that Astrid is dating the known local playboy, Jared.
With time, the affair between Marilyn and Connor gets stronger, and Connor starts to feel protective of Marilyn. And so grows the desire within Connor: the desire to rescue Marilyn and Astrid from the grip of their tormentor. In the face of the possibility of the end of his relationship with Marilyn, Connor offers to take matters into his own hands. He tells Marilyn that he will kill her husband. So, they start to hatch a plan on that. Marilyn would take Astrid and go away for a trip. Then, Connor would go to their house, find the husband, and then would kill him. Connor does the first two tasks. The final task of the killing does not go as smoothly as he has hoped for.
Connor struggles to kill the husband, and in the scuffle, the husband gets the upper hand as he gets the gun. Just when he is about to pull the trigger and end Connor’s life, another intruder hits him on the head and instantly kills him. This intruder is revealed to be Jared, Astrid’s boyfriend. Jared says that he came here to burgle and it is a coincidence that Connor and he chose the same night for their respective crimes. However, Connor does not quite believe that and kills him.
After the assassination, Connor gets a call from Marilyn a couple of days later. He confronts her as he thinks that Marilyn and Astrid have sent their respective boyfriends for the same job or there was something that Marilyn did not tell him. Marilyn denies that. A few more days pass by, and Connor finally gets the predetermined message that indicates Marilyn wants to meet him. However, the moment Connor steps out, he gets surrounded by police and his probation officer. A chase ensues and Connor gets cornered in the spot where Marilyn was supposed to come. Despite his probation officer’s best efforts, the local law enforcement officer shoots Connor, misreading Connor’s movement of reaching into his pocket for his phone. Connor dies with the vision of Marilyn in her red swimsuit, the one she wore when Connor saw her first time.
On a private yacht, Marilyn and Astrid have a conversation about not returning a book. They end up kissing with Marilyn saying nothing will come between them.
Cast
- Diane Kruger as Marilyn
- Ray Nicholson as Connor
- Hank Azaria as Jock
- Chase Sui Wonders as Astrid
- Gia Crovatin as Kim
Production
In August 2021, it was announced that Kruger and Nicholson were set to star in the film. In September 2021, it was announced that Azaria was cast. In October 2021, it was announced that Chase Sui Wonders had joined the cast.
Filming occurred in Newport, Rhode Island in September 2021.
Reception
The film has a 15% approval rating on the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, based on 20 reviews.
Robert Abele of TheWrap gave the film a negative review and wrote, "If an adulterous mystery in the Cain vein isn’t going to dazzle with its dialogue or titillate with its temptations, why is it there?"
Jeannette Catsoulis of The New York Times also reviewed the film negatively and wrote, "A last-minute twist comes too late to rescue the plot; Connor, sadly, was always beyond saving."
References
- Cottee Tantum, Molly (July 26, 2022). "'Out Of The Blue' Trailer: Neil Labute's Toxic Look At Romance Stars Diane Kruger, Ray Nicholson & Hank Azaria". The Playlist. Archived from the original on July 26, 2022. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
- Donnelly, Matt (August 30, 2021). "Diane Kruger, Ray Nicholson to Star in Neil LaBute Thriller 'Out of the Blue'". Variety. Archived from the original on March 7, 2023. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
- Wild, Stephi (August 31, 2021). "Diane Kruger and Ray Nicholson Will Lead Thriller OUT OF THE BLUE From Neil LaBute". BroadwayWorld. Archived from the original on March 3, 2022. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
- Vlessing, Etan (August 30, 2021). "Neil LaBute to Direct Diane Kruger, Ray Nicholson in 'Out of the Blue'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 3, 2022. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
- ^ Lang, Brent (September 23, 2021). "Hank Azaria Joins Neil LaBute's Thriller 'Out of the Blue' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on March 3, 2022. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
- ^ Ravindran, Manori (October 26, 2021). "Neil LaBute's 'Out of The Blue' Rounds Out Cast With Chase Sui Wonders, WestEnd Films Boards Sales – AFM (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on February 9, 2022. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
- Hipes, Patrick (August 30, 2021). "Diane Kruger And Ray Nicholson To Star In Neil LaBute's New Movie – Toronto". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 3, 2022. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
- Dunning, Savana (September 14, 2021). "Cameras roll as thriller starring Diane Kruger, Hank Azaria films in Newport, Jamestown". The Newport Daily News. Archived from the original on March 3, 2022. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
- "Out of the Blue". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on July 28, 2024. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
- Abele, Robert (August 24, 2022). "'Out of the Blue' Film Review: Soft-Boiled Noir Delivers Femme-Fatale Flatness". TheWrap. Archived from the original on March 7, 2023. Retrieved August 26, 2022.
- Catsoulis, Jeannette (August 25, 2022). "'Out of the Blue' Review: The Spider and the Fly". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 7, 2023. Retrieved August 26, 2022.
External links
| Films directed by Neil LaBute | |
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