Sympathy for the Devil (2023)

Sympathy for the Devil is the kind of lean, mean thriller that grabs you by the collar and refuses to let go, powered by Nicolas Cage in full, electrifying “what will he do next?” mode. The movie thrives on the volatile chemistry between Cage and Joel Kinnaman, turning a simple, terrifying setup into a tense, twisting pressure cooker where every glance and line reading feels like a move in a dangerous game. It’s slick, nasty, and darkly fun in that late-night, pulse-racing way, with action that serves the suspense instead of drowning it out. If you like your thrillers grounded in performance and nerve rather than elaborate spectacle, this one’s a ride; if Cage at maximum intensity isn’t your flavor, you’ll know quickly, but fans will be eating well.

Sympathy for the Devil is aiming for a lean, nerve-jangling two-hander: one unlucky driver, one volatile stranger, and a night that spirals into a cat-and-mouse thriller. The problem is it often feels like it’s borrowing tension from better movies without adding much of its own, with a script that leans on familiar twists and a tone that wobbles between serious menace and pulpy theatrics. If you need smart plotting and characters who behave like real people under pressure, this may test your patience. Still, it has moments of energy and a committed, intense performance at its center, so if you’re happy with a straightforward, disposable late-night thriller, you might get enough out of the ride.