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Family relationships can be messy. People often don’t behave as we expect them to—they surprise us or disappoint us or maybe just confound us. In the drama Sundown, one messy family struggles to deal with those complicated, confounding relationships after tragedy strikes.
Sundown travels to Acapulco for a luxurious vacation with the Bennett family. But when Alice (Charlotte Gainsbourg) gets a phone call alerting her about a family emergency, they’re forced to cut their trip short and race to catch the first flight home to London. But when they get to the airport, Neil (Tim Roth) discovers that he’s lost his passport. And instead of returning to their resort to search for his passport, he checks into a hotel on the beach, leaving the rest of the family to deal with the aftermath.
As Neil settles into a chair on the beach, a bucket of beer bottles beside him, the family’s story plays out slowly and quietly. Not much happens here—and not much is said. Even the usual noises of the bustling resort town seem muted, making it feel quiet and even moody, despite the action taking place all around. And without the usual development and drama, viewers are left to come to their own conclusions about what’s going on. That’s the fascinating—and maddening—thing about this film: it plays with audiences’ assumptions.
As the story plays out, you’ll question Neil’s behavior. He’ll surprise you and frustrate you, and you’ll wonder why he does what he does. Even as the pieces start coming together, the information that eventually comes out doesn’t really help to make him a likable character. He still abandoned his family when they needed him. But, thanks to a strong performance from Tim Roth, he’s still a fascinating character.
Though Neil’s story may sometimes seem dull and monotonous, the film throws in surprising bursts of activity to keep viewers on their toes. Just when you get lulled into Neil’s laidback routines at the beach, some unexpected action will break you out of the comfortable quiet. And, really, that’s what this whole film is about. It’s about letting viewers get comfortable with their assumptions, only to shake things up when it’s least expected.
Sundown may be set in a resort town, but this isn’t a fun-loving film. It’s quiet and deliberately paced, and the lack of explanation can be frustrating. It’s definitely a challenging film—intentionally so—but if you’re up for the challenge, it still has plenty to offer.
Sundown is playing in select theaters and is now available on digital platforms.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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