‘Normal’ Review: Bob Odenkirk is a Nobody Sheriff Pushed Too Far in Ben Wheatley’s Sisyphean, Odyssean Modern Western [B-] TIFF
No city is too small to hide a secret too large. The latest rendition of this popular trope takes a jab at small town America in Free Fire director Ben Wheatley’s Normal during a bank heist gone wrong. The film recently had its world premiere in Toronto in the festival’s Midnight Madness section which touts daring genre films greeted by animated audiences. Wheatley’s piercing black comedy mixed with Bob Odenkirk’s (Nobody, Better Call Saul) honorable family man persona–who also dons a writing credit with Derek Kolstad (Nobody, John Wick)–call for a match made in heaven…and hell. This modern Western tries to pack one too many punches with its overcomplicated story but culminates in berserk, explosive action worth seeing.
The film opens unexpectedly in Osaka, Japan where a Yakusa boss makes recruits pledge their undying allegiance before embarking on a new assignment. The poor soul who can’t perform the yubitsume ritual becomes a gruesome warning for the wrath to come, though quite some time passes before its valiant attempt to pay homage to the violent Kill Bill. The assignment? Well, the dots start to slowly connect after the story takes a frigid turn to the eccentric small town of Normal, MN. Arriving to take over as temporary sheriff after the recent passing of Chief Gunderson is the affable Ulysses (Odenkirk), who is similarly mourning a recent separation from his wife, Penny. Disspirited yet emboldened, he embraces the opportunity as a mutually beneficial distraction.
As thanks for not wanting to disturb the status quo, he is proudly welcomed with open arms by the mayor, played by the ever-charming Henry Winkler. He casually patrols Main St. with his derpy partner, Mike (Billy MacLellan, Nobody), who excitedly sports his squeaky new leather jacket. Local shop owners call him with a surprising number of complaints despite the town’s small, insulated population, but they’re generally trivial annoyances. He graciously helps Lori (Reena Jolly, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever) retrieve a snack stuck in a frozen yet somehow functional outdoor vending machine and keeps an eye on the mysterious outcast Alex (Jess McLeod, It’s a Wonderful Knife), daughter of the late chief. At the local bar he meets Moira (Lena Headey, Game of Thrones), the barkeep, and admires its massive collection of firearms on display like prized possessions–all fully loaded, of course. New, dynamic characters continue to appear around every corner, straining an already stuffed first act.
Things start to go awry when Lori and Keith (Brendan Fletcher, Violent Night) reveal their plans to rob the bank. Once inside, the job turns out to be more difficult than expected thanks to two familiar faces that reappear as security guards: the gangsters from Osaka. What could they possibly be doing 6,000 miles from home? What would be so valuable to store so far away? The answer comes shortly and results in the satisfyingly deranged carnage promised by Odenkirk’s recent performances.
To better understand Normal’s peculiarities, it helps to look at its similarly titled inspiration, the darkly comic crime drama, Fargo. Both titles are misdirections: fans know that the bulk of the Coens’ classic takes place in Brainerd, not Fargo, and, well, this town feels far from normal. They share sinisterly clean landscapes, an endless blanket of snow masking a motley crew’s multitude of sins. Most importantly, the sheriffs–Gunderson being a direct reference to the quirky sheriff, Marge–are vehemently honest and lawful. Their distinctive moral compass helps ground the film while things spiral out of control and the characters reveal their true identities.
Other clues hint at a Greek tragedy unfolding as Ulysses, the Latin form of the Greek hero and protagonist of The Odyssey, Odysseus, embarks on a journey away from his family. Both characters are courageous freethinkers and are guilt-stricken after a series of trials and tribulations. At one point one of the townspeople grunts about a Sisyphean task. As Ulysses starts to suspect foul play in Gunderson’s death, he starts having these unpleasant, surreal dreams surrounding Penny, Alex, and the chief. Deciphering this on top of the current mysteries proves too elaborate a scheme and unsuccessful in added meaning.
Odenkirk is the enthralling centerpiece of this overpromising flick, perfectly cast to deliver his signature dry wit alongside violent punches. Fans of his will be equally entertained here, despite its excessive world building that detracts from the brutal showdown in the final act. Westerns are normally distinguished by their honorable themes and signature archetypes. However, being coupled with the more elusive ideals of noir, action-packed stunts, and a heist-turned-murder mystery creates a convoluted web instead of making a perceptive commentary. Its deeper story and references to other crime classics don’t add enough nuance when the clear draw, and climactic build up to it, is the badass action synonymous with Bob Odenkirk’s recent image. So if your grand dreams are fueled by any dark secrets, just know that you’re destined for a life that is nothing more than normal.
Grade: B-
This review is from the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival where Normal had its world premiere. There is no U.S. distribution at this time.
- June Squibb Discusses Exploring Her Jewish Identity, the Universality of Grief, and Finding a Chosen Family in ‘Eleanor the Great’ [VIDEO INTERVIEW] - November 24, 2025
- ‘Sirāt’ Sound Team Kangding Ray and Laia Casanovas Discuss Creating a Spiritual Soundscape on the Highway to Hell [VIDEO INTERVIEW] - November 17, 2025
- Katy O’Brian on Exploring Queer Identity and Getting in the Ring with Sydney Sweeney in Boxing Biopic ‘Christy’ [Interview] - October 19, 2025
Michigan Movie Critics Guild Nominations: ‘One Battle After Another’ Leads with 12 
31st Critics Choice Awards Nominations: ‘Sinners’ Leads with 17, ‘One Battle After Another’ Earns 14 
‘Jay Kelly,’ ‘Hamnet,’ ‘Pluribus,’ ‘Task’ and More on AFI’s Top 10 Films and Television of 2025 Lists 
‘Frankenstein’ to Receive Visionary Honor from Palm Springs International Film Awards