I’m going to be honest, this isn’t a movie you casually put on in the background. This is the kind of film you sit down for. You give it your full attention. And when it’s over, it doesn’t just fade out of your mind. It lingers.

For me, what makes this film so powerful is how unapologetically direct it is. It doesn’t sugarcoat anything. It doesn’t try to make hate look theatrical or exaggerated. It presents it in its rawest form, intelligent, persuasive, charismatic, and therefore dangerous. That’s what unsettled me the most. The fact that the ideology isn’t portrayed as mindless screaming, it’s calculated. It’s articulated. It’s convincing to the vulnerable.

Edward Norton absolutely commands this film. His performance as Derek feels disturbingly authentic. He doesn’t play him like a caricature villain, he plays him like a human being who made catastrophic choices. There’s a confidence and intensity in the first half of the film that’s almost magnetic, and then there’s this slow unraveling. The shift in his performance is subtle but undeniable. It feels earned, not forced.

Edward Furlong also deserves more credit than people give him. His portrayal of Danny feels real, conflicted, angry, impressionable. You can see how easily someone young can be pulled into something destructive simply because they want direction, identity, or approval. That dynamic between the brothers is the emotional core of the film for me.

From a filmmaking standpoint, I respect what Tony Kaye did stylistically. The black-and-white sequences aren’t just visually striking, they feel symbolic. They reflect that rigid, “black-and-white” worldview Derek once had. Then the color in the present timeline subtly reinforces growth, consequence, and complexity. It’s a smart structural choice that adds thematic weight without being overly obvious.

Now, I won’t pretend it’s an easy watch. Some scenes are brutal. Genuinely brutal. There are moments where you almost want to look away. And I understand why some people feel certain scenes push the line. But personally, I think that discomfort is the point. Hate isn’t clean. Violence isn’t cinematic in real life. The film forces you to confront that reality without romanticizing it.

If I had one critique, it would be that a few side characters feel underdeveloped compared to Derek’s arc. I would have liked to see more exploration of certain perspectives surrounding him. But that doesn’t take away from the film’s overall impact.

What really stays with me is the ending. It doesn’t offer a neat resolution. It doesn’t pat the audience on the back. It makes a statement, and it makes it clearly. Change is possible, but it’s fragile. And sometimes it comes at a cost that can’t be undone.

For me, this is a 9 out of 10. It’s not “entertaining” in the traditional sense. It’s challenging. It’s uncomfortable. But it’s powerful, purposeful, and incredibly well-acted. And honestly, films that make you think this long after they end are the ones that matter the most.