A One Mann’s Movies review of “The Infernal Machine” (2022).
The last of my British-Airways-presented catch-up films from my recent trip, “The Infernal Machine” was one that I saw the trailer for, and liked, at Cineworld but which never seemed to arrive! And it’s a movie that I really liked – a complete mind-fuck of a mystery thriller with the ever-excellent Guy Pearce.
The movie is currently streaming on Paramount+ and Now TV or for rent on various streaming services including Prime Video, Apple+, Google Play and Youtube.
Bob the Movie Man Rating:
Plot Summary:
Bruce Cogburn (Guy Pearce) is a recluse living in a remote desert area. He is famous for writing just one controversial book – “The Infernal Machine” – which prompted a personal tragedy. Now a persistent wannabe-author is hounding him with requests for inspiration for his own book. But this is just the start of a spiral of events that lead Bruce to the edge of madness.
Certification:
UK: 15; US: R. (From the BBFC web site: “Very strong language, strong threat, violence, injury detail”.)
Talent:
Starring: Guy Pearce, Jeremy Davies, Eduardo Frazão, Alice Eve, Bella Alexandras.
Directed by: Andrew Hunt.
Written by: Louis Kornfeld & Andrew Hunt.
Twitter Handle:
The first meeting with Samantha (Bella Alexandras) (R. with her mother Officer Higgins (Alice Eve)). But the plot lost me on how Bruce managed to find her the second time. (Source: Paramount Pictures).
“The Infernal Machine” Review:
Positives:
- It’s rare to find a mystery/thriller film that is actually both mysterious and thrilling. This movie requires that you give it utmost attention to keep up with what is going on. This pays big rewards when some of the clever twists come into play.
- Guy Pearce is on-screen for most of the running time (yet another lockdown production?) and gives a stellar performance. Genuinely impressive. I really liked the rather brusque North of England accent that he adopted (he actually is English, born in Cambridgeshire… I always assumed he was Australian!)
Negatives:
- There is one aspect of the plot that I simply didn’t get. It involves a young girl called Samantha (Bella Alexandras) and how Bruce manages to meet her for a second time. I wound that bit of the film back to rewatch it…. and I still didn’t get it. It’s almost as if a few minutes were edited out of the version of the film that I saw.
- The ending is rather OTT. It was a 4 1/2 star film for me until the last 10 minutes or so.
Summary Thoughts on “The Infernal Machine”
I normally feel a bit let down by thrillers, but this one exceeded my expectations. A well-crafted twisty-turny script that always keeps you guessing. Recommended… but it needs you to pay attention!
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Trailer for “The Infernal Machine”:
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0vrecpxXZU .
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