Sympathy For The Devil (2023)

My quick rating - 5.9/10. It finally looks like Nicolas Cage is clawing his way back into serious territory with Sympathy for the Devil, arriving right on the heels of the wildly entertaining Renfield. For a while there, I thought Cage’s legendary intensity had been buried under a mountain of quick-paycheck projects, so seeing him turn in a committed, high-energy performance here made me sigh in relief. His latest thriller delivers a tense, claustrophobic ride that mostly succeeds on the strength of its two leads and a plot designed to keep us guessing.

We begin with an ordinary man (Joel Kinnaman) heading to the hospital for the birth of his child, only to be forced at gunpoint to drive a mysterious stranger (Cage) across the city. From that point on, the film becomes a tense cat-and-mouse game played almost entirely between the two. Cage’s character is unpredictable in the best way. He shifts from calm to explosive without warning, and it keeps us constantly wondering what he’s really after. Cage leans into the role with his usual manic energy and strange humor. I seriously thought that every conversation could turn violent at any second. It’s the kind of performance that reminds us why he became such a magnetic screen presence in the first place.

The chemistry between Cage and Kinnaman is the glue that keeps the film from falling apart. Their banter is tense, and they struggle to gain the upper hand. Both men attempt to outmaneuver the other, both physically and mentally, and this constant tug-of-war between the two is what keeps things interesting. Though there are moments when the film feels a bit too isolated on these two. At times, it felt like the whole crew decided to save money on locations and events by not including too many of either. The tension is good, but at times, I just wanted something bigger to occur.

I'll be honest, it digs deeper than a standard hostage thriller by slowly peeling back the motivations behind each character. As more information comes to light, the story reframes what initially seemed so straightforward. The psychological angle gives the performances a reason to go to such lengths.

To my surprise, Sympathy for the Devil actually sticks the landing. Instead of the constant sequel bait or pointless side-stories, the film builds to a complete and satisfying conclusion. The final revelations make you rethink everything that came before and highlight the murky moral territory both characters dwell in. At least that ending feels earned instead of a manufactured gimmick.

Director Yuval Adler keeps a firm grip on the pacing and doesn't let things wander off into bizarro world (like some Cage flicks). The moody lighting and tight shots help sell the claustrophobic atmosphere, while the score quietly reinforces the urgency without overwhelming the scenes.

All in all, Sympathy for the Devil is a tense and engaging thriller that is saved by Cage’s role and his excellent interaction with Kinnaman. It’s not some all-out action film, and there are times when I wanted a bit of variety, but the payoff makes it all worthwhile. And in a bit of a detail that somehow adds to the film’s offbeat charm, I’m pretty sure nobody actually has a name in the entire movie, which either deepens the mystery or saved a few lines in the script, depending on how cynical you’re feeling.

Reasonably priced for rent on Amazon and a couple of other streamers.

Sympathy For The Devil (2023)

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