(Credit: Netflix)

The Netflix streaming system means that, on occassion, the odd movie from the past will find itself a new audience and grow into a behemoth or cult classic. At the moment, it is Russell Crowe and a forgotten action flick that is enjoying a resurgence.

It’s a movie that is not without its pitfalls but will make your evening’s viewing experience as enjoyable as you might hope. It has certainly begun to climb the charts in the US.

Unhinged thrusts Russell Crowe into a terrifying new role as The Man—an unhinged embodiment of road rage with violent, relentless drive. Directed by Derrick Borte, this thriller dials up the tension from the opening scene, showing Crowe as a volatile, unstable man whose menacing persona explodes following a minor traffic incident. He fixates on Rachel (Caren Pistorius), a single mother who crosses him at a stoplight, turning an ordinary day into a horrifying game of cat-and-mouse.

Crowe’s performance is captivatingly unsettling, veering from simmering hostility to explosive brutality with disturbing ease. The weight he brings to this role is physical as much as psychological; here, he’s heavier, more imposing, with a presence that fills the screen with quiet menace.

Borte’s direction keeps the tension high and unwavering, leveraging each encounter to heighten the unpredictability of Crowe’s character. It’s an unnervingly raw portrayal of unchecked anger, with the action escalating to shocking, visceral levels.

While Unhinged leans into its B-movie style—sometimes sacrificing logic for shock value—it cleverly taps into universal fears of strangers, the unknown, and a world where civility teeters on the brink. Pistorius does well as the beleaguered Rachel, grounding the film amid the escalating chaos.

Unhinged offers an intriguing addition to Russell Crowe’s legacy, shifting him from the heroic or morally complex roles he’s best known for into something far darker. Crowe has long excelled at intensity—think Gladiator or A Beautiful Mind—but here, he channels that intensity into a portrayal of pure, unhinged rage. His transformation is striking; gone is the chiseled warrior or thoughtful genius, replaced by a hulking, furious figure whose actions are unsettlingly unpredictable.

While Unhinged may not reach the awards prestige of his earlier work, it showcases Crowe’s versatility in embodying villainy with disturbing commitment. This role reminds us that Crowe is unafraid to subvert his image, taking on characters that others might avoid. It’s not a defining performance, but it solidifies his ability to tap into visceral, volatile emotions—adding a fascinating layer to a career that’s as unpredictable as it is enduring.

Overall, Unhinged is a brutal, fast-paced thrill ride that will have viewers gripping their seats and, likely, driving a bit more cautiously. Crowe’s unnervingly intense portrayal makes it a thriller worth the watch, even if it leaves you unsettled. So head to Netflix now to get your Russell Crowe fix before it leaves.