If there’s one word that could be used to describe the cinema of Sean Durkin, it is “uncompromising,” as the Canadian-American writer/director has a unique ability to tackle uncomfortable stories about human relationships that feel so authentic that they are challenging to watch. Although Durkin’s debut Martha Mary May Marlene put him on the map as a director of note, it was his latest film, The Iron Claw, which received rave reviews, and went on to become one of the biggest successes in the history of A24. Part of the reason these films succeeded as much as they did was that they had inherently compelling subject material; Martha Mary May Marlene examined the process of cult brainwashing, and The Iron Claw was based on the true story of a tragic Texas family wrestling dynasty. However, Durkin’s most deeply moving film to date is the marital drama The Nest, which takes a very cynical look at the collapse of a relationship.
What Is ‘The Nest’ About?

The Nest follows an American couple who decides to relocate to England in an attempt to expand their financial opportunities. Rory O’Hara (Jude Laws) is a slick, charismatic trader who has convinced himself that he has limited his career potential by remaining stateside; although his wife, Allison (Carrie Coon), worries that moving to England will disrupt her horseback riding training business, she agrees to provide a strong educational foundation for their two children, Ben (Charlie Shotwell) and Sam (Oona Roche). The O’Hara family buys a lavish estate and quickly becomes involved within the elite social circles of London, but find it difficult to retain the facade that they truly belong in a place they know nothing about. As Rory’s professional successes begin to grow less frequent, Allison is forced to ask the existential question of whether their family will ever be able to survive this disastrous decision.

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The Nest is a very patient film that takes its time setting up the conflict between the two leads. At first, Allison’s discomfort is because she does not understand why her husband is so obsessed with pretending to be more wealthy than they actually are; however, their continued exposure to the pretentious aristocrats within their community makes Allison gradually grow colder. The most disturbing aspect is watching both Allison and Rory skip out on their responsibilities as parents, as both Ben and Sam grow to be far more isolated socially. Although they are eventually forced to step in once Ben begins having issues with bullies at school, it is already clear that both children have grown to accept that their parents no longer have their best interests in mind. Even if The Nest didn’t conclude with one of the most cynical endings in recent memory, it implied that children will be incapable of rekindling relationships with their parents if they did not feel “heard” during their youth.
‘The Nest’ Explores the Decline of a Marriage

The Nest shows how a communication breakdown can have disastrous results within a marriage, as it is Rory and Allison’s inability to express their innermost desires to one another that sets them on a destructive path. Although Allison is skeptical from the beginning about the intentions of Rory’s decision, her inability to open up to him results in the stability of the status quo. The revelation that Rory’s decision was made purely because of his ambition certainly does not paint him in a positive light, but Allison is also deserving of some blame because she refuses to take an active part in protecting the sanctity of their children.
The chemistry between Law and Coon is fantastic, as the characters’ relationship is already past the point of no return by the point that the film has begun. Although it is easy to imagine how these characters may have been drawn together based on their mutual ambition and status, it is evident that nothing about their relationship is sustainable; some of the more tense arguments between Law and Coon in the film are more frightening than most horror films. While it is by no means an easy watch, The Nest is a powerful character study that flips clichés about romantic dramas on their head.
The Nest is available to stream on Mubi in the U.S.