Windfall is a satisfying Hitchcockian thriller that isn’t perfect, but the incredible acting by the three leads make it more than worth checking out.
If you are spending the evening at home, and looking for a quick, yet satisfying thriller to put on the TV, Windfall is the perfect option. This movie is now on Netflix and while it is very clearly a movie that was made because of the pandemic (with a very small cast and one location), it is extremely entertaining. Jason Segel, Jesse Plemons, and Lily Collins star, and all three are incredible in their roles. They are all known to be fantastic actors, and this movie solidifies just that.
In this film Segel’s character, titled Nobody, is poking around a vacation home that is not his when the owners (Plemons – CEO and Collins – Wife) arrive home unexpectedly. This causes Nobody’s plans to change, and things get much darker than they would have if the couple had not showed up. He demands money, which CEO says he can provide for him, however it is going to take a day to get it.
Over the course of the next ninety minutes, the day unfolds in a very unexpected way. Things happen that can not be taken back, and the issues this couple is going through are unveiled, somehow sticking Nobody in the middle of it all.
Windfall is short for this kind of movie, but it fits the pacing perfectly. There are a few slow moments, however they are anything but dull. There is an intensity and mystery throughout the entire film that looms over the events that are taking place. Why is Nobody doing this? Why did he pick CEO as his target? And will he be able to successfully leave the property with the money and never look back?
Due to the relationship issues that are clearly going on between CEO and his Wife, the movie is brought to a different level. It adds another layer of suspenseful-ness as viewers try to put all the pieces together. When the Gardener ends up involved, that is when Windfall fully settles into the thriller it is, and things get crazy. For a movie that is made with so little people, staying in one location, and taking place over just one day, it really is entertaining.
Each and every one of these actors brings something amazing to the table. They will keep viewers guessing right up until the last few — extremely shocking and unpredictable — minutes. Alfred Hitchcock would be proud, as Windfall is a subtlety intense thriller.
My biggest complaint is that I was waiting for there to be a big reveal of the connection between Nobody and CEO, but there never was. This feels like a missed opportunity, however, the explanation Nobody gives for his actions works, I just felt like it could have been more. It could have been better.
The other issue with this movie is that it just sort of… ends. While the story does feel complete, it was kind of a jarring and abrupt stop, especially with how it all plays out. I am not sure what could have been added to the end, but it just felt like it needed a little bit more. Still, overall I am very happy that I spent and hour and a half of my time watching this movie.
Windfall is a satisfying thriller, with a great score and phenomenal lead performances. It is well paced and keeps the suspense and intensity going all throughout the film until the shoe hits the fan. A shocking and surprising ending, that is a great way to bring it all home. While it feels like there could have been something more, it is still more than worth checking out — especially if you enjoy a good thriller.
Rating: 3 out of 5
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About Windfall
A Hitchcockian thriller following a young couple (Lily Collins, Jesse Plemons) who arrive at their vacation home only to find it’s being robbed.
Windfall is available on Netflix now.
Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. On Camera personality and TV / Film Critic with 10+ years of experience in video editing, writing, editing, moderating, and hosting.