'Normal' Review: Bob Odenkirk Kicks Ass in Ben Wheatly’s Latest Action-knockout
- 3 minutes ago
- 3 min read
By Shauna Bushe - May 8, 2026
In the snowy, unassuming streets of Normal, Minnesota, the most dangerous thing should be the frostbite. But in Ben Wheatley’s latest exercise in cinematic chaos, the local hospitality consists mostly of high-calibre ammunition and dark, buried secrets.
What is Normal about?
Once a titan of big-city enforcement, Ulysses (Bob Odenkirk) is now a ghost of his former self. Disgraced and living in self-imposed exile, he fills his hollow hours with sorrowful voicemails to an estranged wife who has long since stopped picking up. In a desperate bid to exorcise his demons and find a fragment of peace, Ulysses accepts a temporary sheriff’s post in Normal, a town that seems too pristine to be real. But as the silence of the town settles in, the mask begins to slip. Ulysses uncovers a chilling reality: Normal’s perfection isn't a miracle; it’s a curated front. The entire population functions as a single, cold-blooded criminal enterprise, where their idyllic lifestyle is bought with collective ruthlessness. To keep their secrets buried and their version of "normalcy" intact, the townspeople are prepared to eliminate any threat. And the new sheriff just moved to the top of the list.
Bob Odenkirk continues to prove he is a valuable addition to action cinema. He brings a weary warrior energy that feels lived-in; he isn't a superhero, but a man who is simply too tired to be intimidated. His chemistry with the supporting cast creates a tension that keeps the stakes feeling personal. The villains here aren't moustache twirling monsters; they are the people you’d see at a PTA meeting, which makes their ruthlessness all the more unsettling.
While Odenkirk carries the emotional weight, the ensemble cast populates this snowy town with chilling precision. Henry Winkler is inspired casting as the town’s mayor; he wields "grandpa-next-door" warmth like a serrated blade. Lena Headey provides a sharp, smoky contrast as Moira, a woman who seems to know where all the bodies are buried because she likely helped dig the holes. Additionally, Jess McLeod stands out as Alex, a local who becomes Ulysses’ reluctant guide through the town’s twisted social hierarchy, adding a necessary layer of humanity to the mounting body count.
Wheatley is a champ of tonal whiplash, and Normal is no exception. The film dances on a knifes edge between dry midwestern comedy and creative brutality, including sharp dialogue and unintentional laugh-out-loud sequences. When the action hits, it hits hard. The violence is fast, messy and inventive, like using the mundane environment of a small town to stage high-stakes shootouts and brawls. What's more, because the film is written by John Wick creator Derek, the DNA of the baba-yage is everywhere. The homages are subtle, and less about the dysfunctional action and more about utilizing the rural setting strategically with lethal precision.
Normal starts out slow, but transforms into a mean, surprisingly funny thriller. It takes the familiar tone of an action/heist trope and injects it with a healthy dose of Wheatley’s signature weirdness and Derek Kolstad’s penchant for high-octane action. While it occasionally hits some predictable beats, Odenkirk’s performance and the film's relentless energy make it a standout.
'Normal' hits UK and Ireland cinemas from May 15.
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