A seemingly ordinary, forgettable man butts heads with a crime family in a heavy-duty action thriller from “Hardcore Henry” director Ilya Naishuller and now debuting on 4K home theaters in Nobody (Universal Pictures Home Entertainment, rated R, 2.39:1 aspect ratio, 92 minutes, $29.96).
The story finds suburban dad Hutch Mansell (Bob Odenkirk) living a repetitive and grinding life working for his father-in-law (Michael Ironside) and overshadowed by his successful wife.
After a robbery in his home, his apathy allows the criminals to get away, even having the clear advantage on one of them, while his family, including his teenage son who tried to stop the criminals, watches with an increased disdain.
His rage builds from their disappointment and gets unleashed during an unintentional bloody encounter with a Russian crime lord’s son. He now becomes a wanted man as the mob boss seeks revenge.
However, the underestimated Hutch has a secret former life that will return him from a nobody into a pure killer.
Mr. Odenkirk plays well in this blood-soaked sandbox methodically terminating enemies at will with an occasional quip while Christopher Lloyd nearly steals the ending as Hutch’s equally dangerous father David.
Writer of the “John Wick” mythos, Derek Kolstad handled the scripting duties and created an unoriginal (it’s very Wickish-like) but entertaining underworld with an unassuming action hero ready for more adventures.
4K in action: The UHD transfer offers anything but an ordinary visual presentation.
It’s highlighted by gritty, detailed facial textures and crisp action scenes, even in a dimly lit bus, that allows the 2160p to shine upon a clinic of blood-splatter patterns, open wounds and broken bodies.
Best extras: A welcomed pair of optional commentary tracks, recorded six months before the film’s release, completely deconstruct the movie for fans.
First, we get a nonstop, lighter commentary with Mr. Odenkirk and Mr. Naishuller where the enthusiastic actor’s genuine personality and comedic roots (fans will remember his twisted humor in “Mr. Show with Bob and David”) dominate the memory-packed, sometimes gushing narration often tied to explaining the onscreen action.
Mr. Odenkirk talks about the real break-ins he suffered at his house traumatizing his family, that he trained for two years for the role, that it was his idea to cast Mr. Lloyd and that he was inspired during the tattoo parlor scene from Abbie Hoffman’s hijinks.
Next, the personable and Russian-born Mr. Naishuller, in a solo track, dives much deeper into the finer details of the production — dissecting the script, the casting, the origins of the movie, locations, working with the actors (including a great story about Mr. Ironside), editing, the stunt work and dealing with the cold of Winnipeg.
Viewers also get a 19-minute, behind-the-scenes look at the bus fight, home invasion, car chase and the finale that includes character motivations, stunt work, practical effects and fight choreography, with plenty of words by Mr. Odenkirk and the director.
Other featurettes offer a four-minute segment on Mr. Odenkirk diligently training with mixed martial arts trainer Daniel Bernhardt and his team and a 12-minute overview of the production.
Finally, an important five minutes of deleted scenes reveal more on the background on the lead character’s previous career as relayed by visits from the mysterious government handler the Barber (Colin Salmon) with Hutch’s father-in-law Eddie (Mr. Ironside) and another with a computer analyst. Both should have absolutely been included in the final film.
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