Movie Review: Odd Thomas (2013)

The movie stars Anton Yelchin, Willem Dafoe, Addison Timlin, Nico Tortorella and Ashley Sommers.

Several people have recommended this movie to me. However, I didn't take the time to watch it until last night, when Netflix (which I tend to trust more than my family and friends, at least when it comes to movies) had this as one if its recommendations. And, as it turns out, it was right again. This was a fantastic film.

Based on the very limited description, I wasn't really sure what to expect from this movie. I knew it was a thriller. But, I didn't know if it was a thriller with a good plot or a low-budget thriller that relied heavily on cheap scares (cats jumping out of closets, etc) and gratuitous nudity. This is why I was pleasantly surprised when I discovered it fell into the former category.

Yelchin is awesome as the title character because he handles the action scenes and suspense really well while still mixing in plenty of humility and even a bit of a comical side. I personally enjoy how his character, Odd, has to keep his abilities a secret (though there are plenty who suspect he has them) because he doesn't want to end up in an insane asylum like his mom. This does lead to some interesting explanations when he gives the police a tip.

The thing I liked most about this movie had to be the mystery. At first, it appeared Fungus Bob (Hensley) was the main bad guy. But, when he turns up dead, we immediately know there is someone else was involved. And, even though I was able to correctly guess who the main bad guy was (it's a gift), I wasn't really sure what his motives were, how many people were helping him and where he planned on carrying out his shooting spree.

I also became a big fan of the love story between Odd and his girlfriend, Stormy (Timlin). This is the type of thing that is pretty much hit or miss in movies like this but I thought they made a fantastic couple. You could tell they cared about each other and would do anything to help each other. And, the twist at the very end of the movie was both unexpected and very depressing as a result of that.

This is a great thriller and mystery that definitely exceeded my expectations. It has an unusual premise that is well executed and just fun to watch.

My Grade: A