‘Nobodys creators return with another exciting Odenkirk film.
By Kristy Puchko on April 13, 2026
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Bob Odenkirk stars as a sheriff in peril in Ben Wheatley’s “Normal.” Credit: Magnolia Pictures
Normal is an unexpected movie from Ben Wheatley. Known for dark murder tales like Kill List, Sightseers, and High-Rise, Wheatley teams with Nobody star Bob Odenkirk and writer Derek Kolstad for a darkly funny Western. Kolstad ensures Odenkirk plays a seemingly average man who can both take and give a beating. Wheatley surprises with a shift towards mainstream, moving from Meg 2: The Trench to a new direction for a director eager to lighten up. Normal delivers violence with macabre humor, leaning more towards Coen Bros’ O! Brother Where Art Thou than menacing thrills.
SEE ALSO: Meg 2: The Trench review: Ben Wheatley hates you
Odenkirk plays Ulysses Richardson, interim sheriff of Normal, Minnesota, after the last sheriff’s death. Filled with guilt from a past misstep, Ulysses initially handles minor disputes until a bank robbery involving the yakuza disrupts the peace. The film’s brazen opening in Japan reveals a deal between Normal’s townspeople and the crime syndicate, escalating when Ulysses uncovers the secret. With a cache of weapons, Ulysses teams up with bank robbers to escape.
Normal features plenty of action, including gunfights and inventive chases reminiscent of gangster movies. Yet, its core is about a cowboy doubting his value in a baroque Western style, reflecting on the cost of his actions and feeling disconnected from his community. However, he finds alliances with outsiders, like robbers and a local named Alex, a trans nonbinary alienated by the community.
Normal’s politics are playful. Kolstad touches on gun violence, economic struggles, and foreign influence, but the film doesn’t push a political agenda. Instead, it enjoys exploring unexpected common ground, highlighting that characters are more than their labels. While some critique its political ambiguity, the narrative rejects binary distinctions, portraying a world where right and wrong aren’t black and white.
Bob Odenkirk is pitch-perfect in Normal. He embodies a character who exudes authority but struggles with moral uncertainty, expertly balancing reluctance and determination in fight scenes. The cast, including Henry Winkler as the charming mayor, Lena Headey as a swaggering bartender, and a strong ensemble, builds a town that feels theatrically extreme yet familiar. With a stellar cast and Kolstad’s clever script, Wheatley delivers an entertaining, twisted, and unexpectedly uplifting action-comedy.
Normal was reviewed out of SXSW. The film opens in theaters April 17.
Topics: Film, SXSW
Kristy Puchko is the Entertainment Editor at Mashable, based in New York City. A film critic and reporter, she’s traveled globally, covered film festivals, co-hosted podcasts, and interviewed filmmakers.’