YMMV / The Nightingale (2019)

• Angst Aversion: The movie garnered a large amount of controversy in Australia for not only presenting the Black War in a gruesome way, but also Clare's repeated rapes early into the film, alongside other disturbing content and an overall bleak tone. The first viewing prompted around thirty people to walk out, with one viewer in particular citing the multiple rape scenes (which they saw as gratuitous). Although the movie received a lot of critical acclaim, even those who have watched and liked it have been known to state it's not going to be everyone's cup of tea.
• Catharsis Factor: Billy killing those sadistic monstrous rapists Hawkins and Ruse was intensely satisfying after everything they did. While most of the revenge is too gruesome to be this, even the grisly nature of their deaths can't overshadow that both men thoroughly deserved their fates. It also helps that it's after Mangana learns he's the Last of His Kind, making this the last act of his people: taking a final stand against the British and ensuring that no one else will suffer at Hawkins' hands.
• Complete Monster: Lieutenant Hawkins is a representation of the worst of the British soldiery. After heroine Clare Carroll requests he free her from servitude, Hawkins rapes her, later leading a gang rape of her and murdering her husband Aidan when he blames her for losing out on a promotion, resulting in one of his men murdering her baby Bridget. When heading to Launceston to secure a captaincy, Hawkins accepts his Sergeant Ruse abducting a native woman named Lowanna to use as a Sex Slave, raping her before leaving her for Ruse. Abandoning his men and murdering Lowanna during an Aboriginal attack, Hawkins tries to have Clare's guide "Billy" Mangana murdered. When a young boy convict named Eddie cannot shoot Billy, Hawkins abandons the former, mocking him over extending his sentence, and finally shooting Eddie dead when the latter won't stop begging for another chance.
• He Really Can Act:
  • Aisling Franciosi was already good as Lyanna Stark but in this film she displays some powerful, and not to mention heartbreaking, acting chops.
  • Sam Claflin is best known for playing action heroes like Finnick Odair or handsome romantic leads. Here, he plays a borderline satanically evil British officer who is not only a racist but also a murderous rapist. It's a testament to his acting skills that the vile, revolting personality of his character completely overshadows his good looks.
• Nightmare Fuel: ALL OF IT. The first 20 minutes alone being the rape of Claire and murder of her husband and baby were so disturbing that psychologists had to be present at screenings.

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