Nitram – A Terrific Psychopath Origin Story (Early Review)

Making a splash at last year’s Cannes Film Festival, Nitram was a nominee for the Palme D’Or while Caleb Landry Jones earned a Best Actor award. Needless to say that the hype has put the film on many personal most anticipated of 2022 lists and that hype is justified. That being said, the subject matter won’t be for everyone, especially Australians for which the story will hit especially close to home. However, that story is still an important one, highlighting a dark time in that country’s history. A character study such as this one is a complicated one to tell. The story of a psychopath whose true motivations remain a mystery, the film is a slow burn that doesn’t glamorize their behavior but rather illuminates the tough circumstances that led to what they did by diving deep into their psyche in a surprisingly complex way that doesn’t excuse what they did. Though uncomfortable to watch at times, one can’t help but not look away thanks to the aforementioned performance from Jones who absolutely inhabits the role of Martin Bryant (the character is named Nitram or Martin backwards), the perpetrator of the Port Arthur the deadliest massacre to be committed by a single person in Australia’s history.

As mentioned, Nitram takes place in the mid 1990s and follows a socially-awkward young man named Nitram (Jones) who lived with his mother (Davis) and father (LaPaglia). Isolated from and never quite fitting in with society as a whole, his erratic behavior and lack of social development or impulse control held him back. Arguably a victim of his circumstances and the result of the consequences of his actions and broken home that didn’t know how to handle him, he never developed a grasp of right and wrong and always seemed to get himself in trouble. Leaving his parents at wit’s end and on the verge of giving up, they were the only ones who could take care of Nitram but barely as they couldn’t keep an eye on him 24 hours a day. Growing up slower than other kids, he was bullied incessantly which clearly took a toll on him. All he wanted was to move on from the reputation that defined him and get the respect he believed he deserved though perhaps Nitram lacked the means to communicate that effectively. However, things started to change once he befriended a woman named Helen (Essie Davis), a former singer and actress who had since lived a hermit life off of the massive wealth she amassed during her career.

Helen saw Nitram differently from everyone else. She accepted him and all his quirks. What appeared to be a platonic yet mutually-beneficial relationship, each got something out of the other, be it companionship on her part or essentially whatever he wanted on his. Nevertheless, they were happy, much to the surprise of Nitram’s parents who did not understand their relationship and what each saw in the other though their similar issues seemed to make them perfect for each other. Her sheer lack of consideration for all the clear warning signs may baffle some but ultimately, all good things come to an end. This end in particular left him spiraling as he lacked that grounding presence to keep him in check. With nothing holding him back, Nitram began to act on his impulses as the film escalated into some uncomfortable territory. Just like the real life character, the film doesn’t offer much in the way of answers as his motivations were unclear as Nitram had become a lost cause that took out his frustrations as if a switch had been flipped inside his head. Meanwhile, an abrupt ending makes it all hit harder.

In the end, the best part of Nitram was of course Jones’ phenomenal performance as the titular character where he absolutely escapes into the role. Besides the perfect Australian accent that’s hard to do being the only American in an Australian production, he brings the right amount of unhinged energy of a budding psychopath to the screen that some may be unable to look beyond but that energy is rooted in pain. While the film does not excuse his actions, it’s easy to connect with his tough life and upbringing. Judy Davis (unrelated to Essie Davis) also shines as Nitram’s formerly-authoritarian mother, another complicated role as she watches from a distance both resigned and defeated by her son who she still cared about. LaPaglia as Nitram’s father took a more liberal approach with him, handling his son differently in what was a tragic performance. Essie Davis was sensational in a limited role as Helen. However at the end of the day, the chemistry across the board made for a compelling watch.

Nitram may not be an easy watch but if anything, shows that Caleb Landry Jones is ready to move into the spotlight.

 still courtesy of IFC Films

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Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.