Normal (2026) Review: A bloody good flick
New standalone action movies are all super hit-or-miss for me: they're usually completely boring and uninteresting to me, or one of my new favorites of the year. I can't even think of a film in recent memory that was anywhere in between. I loved Shelter or Dhurandhar recently, but got nothing out of The Rip, War Machine, or Fuze. And this yet again falls into one of these two categories: but which one does it fall into? That's what I, Brighton Nelson of The Reel Ranker, will be discussing in today's review.
Let's get into the negatives before we shift into the positives. First of all, there are a couple of elements I didn't quite like about this film's ending. A certain character named Blaine, as well as where the town leaves off by the conclusion? They simply feel like unrealistic conclusions, even with the main character's general attitude. Also, two rather interesting characters drop out of the film far too early, in my opinion. Lastly, while funny, I found that the inciting incident that kicks off the climax was unbelievable to a fault and felt like something that would only happen in Final Destination.
However, my itty-bitty gripes with the movie don't hold it back from being a phenomenal neo-action classic. This is a really bloody flick that is equal parts chilling and funny. The action here is incredible and grounded, with fantastic gunplay and special effects that are super entertaining. The film does an awesome job of balancing its bloody action with tense thrills that keep you on the edge of your seat, as well as subdued, situational character humor and over-the-top situational humor, both of which elicit lots of laughs.
However, this film had quite a bit more depth than I was expecting; it's not just superficial. First of all, the performances are fantastic, especially Bob Odenkirk as the lead. The characters are actually surprisingly deep for a rather silly, high-octane action flick, and the performances really underline that. Odenkirk plays a really righteous cop, but also one who has a troubled past that he had to get over and one who is also somewhat averse to getting involved in the town's affairs. There are also these two bank robber characters who juxtapose very interestingly with the citizens of Normal.
There's also some solid themes explored here! The themes of redemption, seeing the good in the bad, and a well-rounded exploration of cops are all awesome. The plot twists especially help with this more thematically rich action film, as they reveal a lot more about Odenkirk's character.
The Reel Ranker Verdict
Reel or Unreel? - Reel
The Reel Ranker Score: 77%
Letter Score: A
Star Ranking: 4 out of 5
Blending bloody action, tense thrills, unique comedy, and a neo-Western setting, Normal is an awesome action movie that still finds ways to have interesting characters, solid themes, and plenty of heart that elevate the film from just being another superficially entertaining action flick.
Check out some other reviews for action flicks and thrillers below! These lists will be continuously updating as I review more of the films I've watched 😄
Brighton Nelson
Brighton NelsonEnjoy this review? Stay tuned for more articles from The Reel Ranker! Enjoy video games? Check out our sister site, RPG Ranked!
