No Good Deed Movie Review

No Good Deed Movie Review

Movie:         7/10

No Good Deed stars Oscar-nominated actress Taraji P. Henson and Golden-Globe winner actor Idris Elba in a suburban thriller about a mother (Henson) trying to survive the night, after a dangerous man (Elba) knocks on her door asking for help. The film was released on September 12, 2014 by Screen Gems. 

Terri is the mother of a baby and a small girl living in the suburbs with her busy husband. She was previously a state attorney who worked in the homicide department putting killers of women in jail. However, after having her children she quit and decided to become a full time mom. Her husband seems to have gotten tired of her. He would rather be out of the house and leave Terri with the kids. Terri resents him, but that day she keeps her attitude in check partly because she admits to occasionally give him a hard time, and after all she does love her children.

Colin is a manipulative, and compulsive, sociopath who murdered five woman and a man. The lack of evidence in the cases only allowed for a conviction for manslaughter. But today is his big day. He is about to receive the news on whether or not he will be allowed to be released from jail on parole. It is quickly shown that his parole is denied, and while being transported back to prison he kills the guard and the driver and then escapes. After stalking her, he goes to visit his ex-fiancée. He asks her some questions (she clearly gets nervous and scared) and then confronts her about being with another man while he was in jail. He ends up breaking her neck and beating her body with a blunt object. 

That same day, Terri’s husband is almost out the door as soon as he arrives home. It is his father’s birthday and he has to drive a few hours to arrive to him. Terri tries to get his attention, but he quickly dismisses her and leaves with a dry “love you too”. Terri stays worried because of his late attitude towards her, and also because of a storm that is supposed to hit in a few hours. The storm hits later that day, and while Colin is attempting to escape in a truck, he loses control and crashes the vehicle. He walks to Terri’s house and asks for her phone, saying he just needs to call the towing company to pick up his car. Terri agrees although she feels reluctant, and after talking with him for a few minutes she lets him inside her home. 

This might seem very foolish of her, and it is, but there is a reason which I personally believe to be enough to explain her behavior. It is obvious that Terri has been feeling mostly unhappy for some time now. Being a mom is not easy, and concentrating that much on others rather than herself (unlike when she became an attorney and practiced her profession) makes her feel overlooked. She obviously resents this as her husband does not make the slightest effort to acknowledge her as a person, not to mention her work and selflessness, especially when it is only her that is taking care of their children. So when this (apparently) charming and attractive man comes knocking on her door, she lets her feelings get the best of her, inviting mortal danger into her home. Once she realizes the fatal mistake she’s committed, she knows she will have to fight tooth-and-nail to protect her children and herself from becoming Colin’s next victims. 

The movie takes its time to set up the most important characters. Both Terri and Colin are given similar screen time, before they even encounter each other, to let the audience know them and their situation. This was a smart move. Once Terri sees Colin for who he really is, her background, and Colin’s, help to translate their actions in response to the situation well. This situation also forces Terri to find part of herself again. 

For the second third of the film there are two kinds of tension. One is shared by Colin, and us as the audience. The second one is only shared by Terri and Colin; but for him this tension is only there as part of his manipulation. The first type of tension is of menace, and it carried from the second Terri opens the door to Colin (because we know who he really is). The second one is sexual, and Colin develops it between him and Terri to manipulate her. Once he receives the slightest sign of unhappiness from Terri, he analyzes it well and takes full advantage of it, developing this sexual tension. Of course, this tension is true for Terri, but Colin only uses it to infiltrate her home. In the third part of the film is when Terri realizes her fatal decision, and by then only the tension of menace and danger remains. 

The film is overall a good thriller with good performances, however, there are some caveats. The tone in the second third is not consistent. There are some moments here where the tensions seem to be competing for development. This causes confusion upon the audience, not knowing how exactly to feel. One moment Terri’s friend is flirting with Colin without holding back, and the next she is about to unintentionally uncover his lies. Thankfully, this section of the film ultimately concentrates on the menace. There are also moments throughout where the editing is not good, and because of it the pace feels clunky sometimes. Ultimately, however, the final amount of tension built up until the third act begins is enough so that its pay-off turns out be decent, providing the audience with some good thrills and edge-of-your-seat moments. The film also has a few nice surprises sprinkled throughout which help keep the story moving and prevent the actions, and situations, between Terri and Colin from becoming repetitive. Recommended.