Peacock (2010) - Movie Marathon Drive-Thru Review: Film #13

On the Menu: PEACOCK (2010)

Ingredients: Cillian Murphy, Ellen Page, Susan Sarandon, Josh Lucas, Bill Pullman and Keith Carradine. Directed by Michael Lander. Run time: 90 minutes. Rated: PG-13.

At First Bite: I knew nothing of PEACOCK going in, but knew it had Ellen Page. That's all I really needed to know. But, then I read the back cover of the DVD and found that Murphy was going to be in a Norman Bates-type role. Intriguing, right?

Tough to Swallow: This movie did not receive a theatrical release. 

Something to Chew On: Murphy really did shave off his eyebrows. It took nine weeks for them to grow back.

Aftertaste: What if Norman Bates lived in a town surrounded by people, but his alter-ego was more interested in having a family than killing people? That's PEACOCK in a nutshell.

I would have mentioned in the "Tough to Swallow" section that Murphy in drag looks like Murphy in drag, not really a woman. However, the movie looks to be set in the 1950s or around that time. So, it's easy to assume that people back then don't really think, "Hey, that's John dressed as a woman!" Worse-case scenario they'd think John and Emma are related.

The audience discovers the truth about Emma very early in the film. To me, what makes this movie a thriller is the suspense of when someone is going to figure out that secret. The movie is full of great actors, but, really, this is all Murphy. John and Emma have significantly different personalities. I guess that's another reason the townspeople can't put two and two together. It's crazy how independent Emma is compared to John. I don't think he could have survived had he not created her. But, he was always able to control her because he kept to a strict routine. When the routine is disturbed by the train wreck, Emma takes the spotlight and doesn't want to relinquish it. PEACOCK is a surprisingly good psychological thriller. Had the film gotten a theatrical release, Murphy might have received some accolades for his performance(s). 

Rating: