Out of the Furnace

A grim revenge tale packed with macho posturing and excessive violence, Out Of The Furnace is an odd beast, throwing punches while never hitting its target. Directed by Crazy Heart’s Scott Cooper, it is full of horror but with little emotional complexity.

The story focuses on the Baze brothers: weary but well-intentioned steel-worker Russell (Christian Bale) and brother Rodney (Casey Affleck), a soldier traumatised after Iraq. Struggling to find meaning in life, Rodney becomes involved in bare knuckle fighting, falling on the wrong side of sociopathic gang leader Woody Harrelson.

The performances are brilliant, with Bale and Affleck playing against each other beautifully. Affleck brings a blistering but inarticulate anger, hinting at the horrors he’s experienced. Harrelson is terrifying as a lurching, unpredictable sadist whose scarred and snarling face puts him on the handsome side of a The Hills Have Eyes villain. Incidentally, the Ramapough Lenape Nation upon whom Harrelson’s gang is based is filing a lawsuit regarding their terrifying portrayal. They’ve labeled the film a “hate crime.” It’s understandable.

Ultimately, however, the film is filled with clichés and takes itself far too seroiusly. One might have worked - not both.