It wasn't always this way, but these days actor Nicolas Cage is perhaps best known for his positively crazy performances and the meme-worthy facial expressions they often produce. Johnny Blaze in Ghost Rider, Castor Troy in Face/Off, as well as roles in The Wicker Man, Bad Lieutenant and many other films have all established crazy as Nicolas Cage's brand onscreen. But for his latest role, it looks like he may have outdone himself. Check out the trailer for the upcoming thriller Mandy and what may be Nicolas Cage's craziest performance yet.
Cool, cool, I'm glad I have my nightmares all queued up for tonight. Oh well, at least they'll be colorful. I'm not sure what this movie is, but it looks positively bonkers. Mandy looks so fantastical, weird and unsettling that Nicolas Cage's crazy performance seems absolutely necessary and fits right in. This isn't a case of Nicolas Cage being in a different movie than everyone else, because he is very much at home here with his character Red. We see Red covered in blood, screaming like a crazy person, perhaps doubting his sanity and going on some sort of revenge tour by hunting with an axe Frailty-style. This is peak Nicolas Cage in a role that is seemingly tailored to his specific skills, and it looks absolutely awesome.
This is truly a striking trailer, and it's amazing how content that appears so violent can be so beautiful. There are several great shots in this trailer that are positively painterly. The use of color reminds me of the work of Nicolas Winding Refn, while the content has a distinctly Lynchian bizarre quality to it. Writer and director Panos Cosmatos looks to have crafted something truly unique here and is taking full advantage of the star's talents. Also there is a tiger, because why wouldn't there be, and who can argue that tigers don't elevate any movie they're in.
For those still curious what they just watched, Mandy is set in the wilderness of the Pacific Northwest in 1983. Red and Mandy, played by Andrea Riseborough, have their existence interrupted by a cult that murders Mandy. Red seeks vengeance against the cult and its leader and goes down a clearly fantastical and frightening path to do so.
Mandy premiered at Sundance earlier this year to positive reviews, with many citing the incredible performance of Nicolas Cage. It is easy to forget with all the fun the internet has at his expense that Nicolas Cage is an Oscar-winning actor who can give committed, intense and emotional performances, and that looks like what we're getting here. With a healthy dose of craziness, because of course.
Mandy opens in theaters on September 14. Before then, Nicolas Cage finally gets to play Superman in Teen Titans Go! To the Movies, which opens on July 27. Check out our release schedule to see all the movies hitting theaters this year, and for all the latest in things you can't unsee, stay tuned to CinemaBlend.
