‘The Nightingale’ Film Review: ‘Babadook’ Director Packs a Wallop in Bleak Revenge Tale

There are almost no movies that come with a content warning about sexual assault. Jennifer Kent’s haunting new film “The Nightingale” does, and it’s a warning not to be taken lightly. For those us of who use trigger warnings to navigate life, it’s sometimes better to be mentally prepared for the horrors depicted in the film. Set up a self-care plan in place ahead of nightmares or panic attacks it might bring up, or decide for your health’s sake that this film is better watched at another time in the safety of your home or perhaps not at all. What’s important for some viewers is that these warnings restore control to those who may have had it taken away. It’s in that spirit (and the wishes of the film’s distributor) that I won’t go into some of the more visceral details of what happens in the cruel first 20 minutes of “The Nightingale.” In this film, writer and director Kent shifts from the supernatural thrills of her breakout sensation “The Babadook” to something more hellishly realistic. Also Read: Venice Festival Juror Jennifer Kent Disappointed by Lack of Female Directors in Competition This Year Clare (Aisling Franciosi), an Irish convict, lives...