Watch The Nest

The Nest, a 2020 drama film, is set in the 1980s and follows the story of a British businessman named Rory (Jude Law) who convinces his American wife Allison (Carrie Coon) to move with him and their two children from their comfortable life in suburban America back to his native England. Rory has promised Allison that their move to a grand manor in rural England will be the fresh start they need to achieve the glamour and success they once envisioned for themselves. The film explores the tensions and conflicts of the couple's marriage, as well as their respective relationships with their children as they struggle to adjust to the new surroundings and expectations.

As they settle into their new home, Rory realizes quickly that his financial turmoil, rather than the idyllic life he has promised, is waiting for him in England. Having abandoned his previous job as an entrepreneur in America, Rory's hubris and determination to make it big sets him on a path of deception that begins to push his marriage to its limits. Meanwhile, Allison, still struggling with her own frustrations and the reality of her new circumstances, begins to question everything she thought she knew about their relationship and becomes increasingly disillusioned by the soullessness of the luxurious lifestyle Rory is trying to build.

The Nest is notable for its stunning performances from Jude Law and Carrie Coon, who embody the complexities of their flawed characters brilliantly. Law plays the charming yet deceitful Rory with an immense confidence, showcasing the character’s stubbornness and blind ambition even in the face of adversity. Coon’s Allison, equally nuanced, takes on the role of a neglected housewife, anxious and wary of the consequences of the choices around her, yet determined to carve out a place for herself and her family.

The film’s young cast members, particularly Oona Roche who portrays the couple's teenage daughter Samantha, deliver equally impressive performances. Roche captures the inner turmoil of a high-schooler, grappling with forming her own identity and searching for answers to some of life’s biggest questions.

The Nest is a captivating tale, beautifully shot and directed by acclaimed director Sean Durkin. Durkin, who also wrote the script, invests in the film with a brooding and atmospheric quality, adding to the tense and unsettling mood of the story.

Set against the backdrop of a time when greed, excess and ambition had become the new virtues, The Nest is a cautionary tale, a story about a couple chasing dreams that may be too far out of reach. The film is gripping from start to finish, as Durkin draws audiences into the increasingly fraught world of the O'Hara family, and the pursuits, illusions and secrets that steadily unravel their lives.

Overall, The Nest is a masterful piece of storytelling that offers suspense, drama, and rich character development. It is a film that lingers in the mind and soul long after its final scene. A deeply intimate and powerfully compelling examination of the American Dream and how it can unravel even the best of us, The Nest is not one to miss.

The Nest is a 2020 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 47 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.3 and a MetaScore of 80.