Amy Dunne (Rosamund Pike) has gone missing. When her husband, Nick (Ben Affleck), returns home from The Bar, the bar he owns with his sister Margo (Carrie Coon), he finds the house in disarray. The coffee table has been destroyed, there’s blood in the kitchen, etc., and Nick becomes incredibly worried. However, as local authorities begin investigating, Nick becomes the center of attention, and his life is twisted and contorted in a way that he never could have expected. Gone Girl is the story of Nick and the hunt for his missing wife.
For years I operated under the belief that Affleck was incredibly talented, that each and every role he accepted was somehow attacked with vigor and grace, but I’ve recently come to the realization that this just isn’t the truth. Affleck has somehow managed to find himself in top-notch roles, leading extraordinary films, and demanding the spotlight, and the only reason I can think of is that he somehow seems likable. His laidback, nonchalant demeanor is attractive to viewers, and I truly believe that this is the reason that he has remained so popular over the years. Gone Girl is a prime example of how average Affleck is. He fails to exude the necessary emotions, and the scenes of which he is a part struggle as a result. He’s simply average, nothing more, nothing less. (Please refer to my review of The Tender Bar to see my updated opinion regarding Affleck).
Despite Affleck’s extraordinarily average acting, however, Gone Girl is impressive. Every piece of this film that’s entertaining comes from the writing. Before the film, however, Gone Girl was a best-selling novel written by the film’s writer, Gillian Flynn. This story dives deep into the psychology of a husband and wife, and it rips apart relationships in the most brutal, but intelligent way. From nearly the first second of Gone Girl I was immersed in a twisted world of psychotic and sociopathic behaviors, and as I was pulled deeper and deeper into Nick and Amy’s story I found it nearly impossible to get out–and the beauty is that I didn’t want to. This fictional world of absurdities manages to appeal to viewers because it plays on their greatest fears and contorts them into something far more vicious than they could have ever imagined. The viscosity of everything that plays out throughout Gone Girl makes the film even more enjoyable, mysterious, and utterly unique.
Not just the story is appealing. The characters, regardless of how poorly acted, nauseating, or despicable, find their way into the hearts of viewers. While they aren’t necessarily relatable, viewers are able to appreciate nearly every aspect of these characters, even their flaws. The connections that viewers are able to make with the characters in Gone Girl. Actors like Pike, Neil Patrick Harris (Desi Collings), and others build these bridges through their acting, but the primary reason they are so interesting–and Affleck’s shortcomings can be overlooked–comes as a result of the writing of Flynn.
Light plays a significant role in how viewers see Gone Girl and follow Nick and Amy’s story. The dim, agonizing light plagues the film throughout, but finds viewers constantly anticipating something equally dark and dreadful. This darkness lingers over the film in its entirety and, like nearly every other aspect, pulls viewers further and further into the thick of Flynn and director David Fincher’s masterpiece.
Gone Girl is dark, both literally and metaphorically, and keeps viewers on edge throughout. The story follows a winding, unexpected road that takes viewers on the ride of a lifetime, as the most insane story of love and murder comes to life before them. Gone Girl flows smoothly, even on its twisted journey, reeling in viewers and refusing to let them go for nearly two and a half hours. This film is beautifully demented, ironically fun, and mysteriously genuine from beginning to end.
Directed by David Ficher.
Written by Gillian Flynn.
Starring Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Neil Patrick Harris, Tyler Perry, Carrie Coon, Kim Dickens, Patrick Fugit, David Clennon, Lisa Banes, Missi Pyle, Emily Ratajkowski, Casey Wilson, Lola Kirke, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/10
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