I DON'T FEEL AT HOME IN THIS WORLD ANYMORE


US, 2016, 93 minutes, Colour.
Melanie Lynskey, Elijah Wood, Gary Anthony Williams, Christine Woods, Robert Longstreet, Macon Blair.
Directed by Macon Blair.

This is something of a black comedy (with, perhaps, something of a rainbow ending) written and directed by actor, Macon Blair. Blair had written the screenplay to offbeat thriller is, with touches of horror, Blue Ruin and Green Room. This is his first film as director.

This is a tale of middle America. Melanie Lynskey plays Ruth, an ordinary woman, suffering from depression who finds that her house has been burgled, especially the taking of her computer. She has a rather annoying, sometimes intrusive neighbour, played by Elijah Wood. He volunteers to help her track down the stolen goods, especially the computer. They form a rather odd couple investigative team, he showing skills, she encouraged by the experience.

The screenplay leads them into all kinds of adventures, and quite a number of dangers, into a criminal world, into a drug world. And while Ruth might not have felt at home in this world anymore, she gets a new lease on life, a new companion, a new energy…

1. The blend of comedy and thriller? Awards?

2. The American town, houses and streets, suburbs, homes and shops? The musical score?

3. The title? Ruth’s sentiments?

4. Ruth, in herself, age, her work as a nurse, difficulties, tired, finding her house burgled, the laptop, medication, the silverware from her grandmother? The police, reprimanding her for not locking the door? Her going door to door to get information? Increasing anxiety? The police not helping?

5. Tony, the neighbour, age, eccentric, his rage, deciding to help?

6. Tracking the laptop, going to the shop, the re-sale company, the print of the shoe? The silver? The proprietor breaking Ruth’s finger? Tony knocking him out?

7. Ruth’s increased frustration, relying on Tony, remembering the number plate, the police, tracking it down? The police not helping so their impersonating police? The encounter with the wife, leading to the stepson, leading to drugs, his being imprisoned, issues of money?

8. The father, the encounter with Ruth, hitting his windpipe, and being hit by the bus?

9. The thugs, the stepson, his friends, the abduction, forcing Ruth to be part of the robbery, the bodyguard, leading to the shootout?

10. Tony, his ninja moves, being stabbed? The confrontation and the deaths? The rocks, the moccasin and the bite?

11. Ruth, her grandmother’s ghost, – and happy ending and a happy future?