Nocturnal Animals

Tom Ford's 2016 film follows Susan, who runs a gallery. Her former husband sends her an unpublished novel. As Susan reads, the film runs two lines together. The story in the book concerns an attack on a family on the road; the narrative builds the novel as a reckoning aimed at Susan and lets the two lines reflect each other. Amy Adams and Jake Gyllenhaal lead, with Michael Shannon in support. The visual design comes forward. The opening sequence caused argument. Who it's for: those who like layered narratives and formally ambitious films. Who it's not for: viewers for whom sexual violence and the killing of family members would be difficult.