Normal With Bob Odenkirk is an action-packed instant classic.

      Normal, which premiered on Sunday at SXSW, follows a familiar premise: a new sheriff arrives in town. Fortunately, he’s portrayed by Bob Odenkirk, known for his roles in Mr. Show, Breaking Bad, and Better Call Saul, ensuring that his character will be nuanced and explore dark humor in unexpected ways. Co-written by Odenkirk and Derek Kolstad, the creator of John Wick, the film promises tight and surprising writing, infused with peculiar humor.

      However, I was genuinely unprepared for how utterly enjoyable Normal turned out to be. Contrary to my concerns, it is not just another thriller featuring an ordinary individual with a troubling past of skills acquired through numerous hidden killings— a genre that has been effectively mastered by Liam Neeson, Odenkirk, Kolstad, and others in recent years and deserves a breather.

      Normal stands apart. Odenkirk's character is a lawman who, unlike most depictions we see in contemporary cinema, not only tries to de-escalate situations but does so excessively. He sidesteps conflicts at every opportunity.

      Until he can't.

      The film's initial segment is all about setting things up, with the rest delivering significant payoff. Enormous payoff. (While some might refer to it as the “first act,” in this case, it was indeed a literal reel—SXSW screened the film on 35mm at the beautiful Paramount Theatre in Austin, enhancing the experience of watching Normal.)

      Director Ben Wheatley mentioned in his introduction that the film runs for a compact 90 minutes, meaning a bathroom break isn’t necessary. He maintains a brisk pace with sophistication and joy.

      Bob Odenkirk, Derek Kolstad, and Ben Wheatley discuss Normal

      (L-R) Director Ben Wheatley, executive producer Marc Provissiero, writer Derek Kolstad, and co-writer/star Bob Odenkirk at the film’s SXSW screening. MovieMaker

      The intricate buildup is filled with one Chekhov’s Gun after another, a term that describes the dramatic principle that every element in a story must have relevance later, no matter how trivial it may seem.

      “You plant a seed to bring to creative harvest,” Kolstad explained during a Q&A after the screening.

      Odenkirk shares a story credit with Kolstad, who crafted the script. In the Q&A, the actor indicated that his primary contribution involved the setups his character, Ulysses, encounters as he navigates Normal, a quirky Minnesota town marked by a peculiar blend of vacant storefronts and conspicuous wealth.

      “I was able to contribute to the initial part of the piece, where the town is quirky, something feels off, and there's humor, with the people being somewhat endearing, yet there’s something amiss,” Odenkirk noted. “Derek is very receptive to ideas like, ‘What about this?’ or ‘What if we try that?’ So I’ve always felt free to discuss ideas with him.”

      “Iron sharpens iron,” Kolstad added. “Best idea wins.”

      Normal was conceived when Kolstad and Odenkirk collaborated on the 2021 film Nobody, which elevated Odenkirk to an action hero after years in comedy and TV drama. During a break in filming Nobody, Odenkirk asked Kolstad about his other projects.

      They developed Normal alongside producer Marc Provissiero and all agreed to serve as executive producers. After wrapping up work on last year’s Nobody 2 in Winnipeg, they swiftly began filming Normal, even as the temperature began to drop. The frigid weather is crucial to the film's setting and enhances the atmospheric quality of its inventive, bloody action scenes.

      In crafting the town and its inhabitants, Odenkirk drew inspiration from Garrison Keillor's 1985 novel Lake Wobegon Days and the 1971 black comedy Cold Turkey, directed by Norman Lear. Meanwhile, Kolstad found influence in the elaborate deaths depicted in the Final Destination franchise.

      So, to summarize Normal briefly, it could be described as Lake Wobegon Days meets Final Destination, in the best possible way. And don't forget to consider the weather.

      Both Kolstad and Odenkirk hail from regions that experience brutal Midwestern winters. Wheatley, being British, thought he was ready for the even harsher cold of Winnipeg, but he soon discovered he was mistaken. During production, temperatures dipped below 30 degrees.

      “My Canadian friends warned me, ‘It’s going to be cold. It’s going to be cold,’” Wheatley recalled. He had thought, “Yeah, whatever."

      “When we filmed scenes in town, I remember stepping out from my warmed-up little trailer and feeling like my nose started to crackle as the hairs froze, and I turned around to see everyone with frost on their eyelashes,” Wheatley laughed.

      He was drawn to Normal not only by the talent involved but also by the opportunity to explore a new genre. Wheatley transitions smoothly between comedy, thrillers, and horror