I will continue to update this post as reviews come in.
Rotten Tomatoes: Fresh
Critics Consensus: N/A
| Critics | Score | Number of Reviews | Average Rating (Unofficial) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Critics | 78% | 45 | 6.10/10 |
| Top Critics | 63% | 8 |
Metacritic: 64 (13 Reviews)
Sample Reviews:
Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic 3/5 – Stuff blows up good in this one.
Jacob Oller, AV Club C- – Neither the bit nor the bloodbath tap into any of the chaotic juvenilia that’s made Wheatley’s gonzo genre romps stand out—and its star is visibly tiring of his own career pivot.
Michael Rechtshaffen, The Hollywood Reporter – Handling it all with a detached, shrugging sense of doom, Odenkirk proves the right man for the job at hand in both of the film’s two tonally separate halves, and he’s supported by a colorful cast.
Brian Tallerico, RogerEbert.com – There are a lot of booms and bangs in 'Normal,’ but it’s all woefully underlit and much of it is poorly edited too.
Tim Grierson, Screen International – Offering wan satire about the smallmindedness of Midwestern communities while making halfhearted stabs at poignancy once Ulysses begins to regain his sense of purpose, this shoot-‘em-up mostly fires blanks.
Katie Rife, IndieWire B- – Like a firecracker with a long fuse, “Normal” builds up, burns fast, makes a big noise, and then it’s gone.
Peter Debruge, Variety – Kolstad’s script may be a recipe for carnage, but it takes a kitchen master like Wheatley to turn that into such a deliciously excessive spread.
Chase Hutchinson, TheWrap – As long as Odenkirk’s grumpy sheriff has his coffee and mustache intact, he is the key to finding the perfect balance. No matter how many blows the film and he take, the joy in seeing him swing freely makes it all good, family fun.
SYNOPSIS:
For Sheriff Ulysses (Bob Odenkirk), his provisional posting to the quaint Midwestern American town of Normal was meant to be a welcome respite from both his marital woes and recent moral injuries in the line of duty. But when a botched bank robbery interrupts the municipality's tranquil pace, a dark secret is inadvertently exposed, and Ulysses soon discovers that the town is anything but its namesake.
CAST:
- Bob Odenkirk as Sheriff Ulysses
- Henry Winkler as Mayor Kibner of Normal
- Lena Headey as Moira
DIRECTED BY: Ben Wheatley
SCREENPLAY BY: Derek Kolstad
STORY BY: Derek Kolstad, Bob Odenkirk
PRODUCED BY: Marc Provissiero, Bob Odenkirk, Derek Kolstad
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Ellen Rutter, Molly C. Quinn, Matthew M. Welty, Elan Gale, Josh Adler, Rhonda Baker, Carrie Wilkins, Glenn Feig, Matthew J. Anderson, Jared Underwood, Andrew C. Robinson
LINE PRODUCER: Ellen Rutter
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: Armando Salas
PRODUCTION DESIGNER: Jean-Andre Carriere
EDITED BY: Jonathan Amos
COSTUME DESIGNER: Heather Neale
MUSIC BY: Harry Gregson-Williams, Ryder McNair
MUSIC SUPERVISOR: Jillian Ennis
CASTING BY: Carmen Kotyk
ADDITIONAL CASTING BY: David Rubin, Matt Lander
RUNTIME: 90 Minutes
RELEASE DATE: April 17, 2026
by chanma50