Windfall Review: Jesse Plemons and Lily Collins are Trapped in a Slowburn Thriller That Keeps You Guessing

Windfall on Netflix is directed by Charlie McDowell and stars Jesse Plemons, Lily Collins, Jason Segel and Omar Leyva. The story is written by Charlie and Jason along with Justin Lader and Andrew Kevin Walker (also wrote the screenplay). The film is 1 hours 32 minutes long.

The synopsis reads, “A man breaks into a tech billionaire’s empty vacation home, but things go sideways when the arrogant mogul and his wife arrive for a last-minute getaway.”

Netflix Film Windfall Review Contains No Spoilers

In Netflix film Windfall, a man (played by Jason Segel) breaks into the farmhouse of a wealthy tech billionaire, played by Jesse Plemons. Surprisingly, the billionaire and his wife, played by Lily Collins, arrive at the house for a vacation. The man freaks out and doesn’t know what his next move will be.

As the husband and wife are settling inside the house they haven’t visited for a long time, the man tries to escape. Sadly, the wife catches him near the door. Before the couple can call for help, the man holds the husband and wife hostage. The wealthy billionaire asks the hostage about his demands, the reason for tying them up and if something hurt him. But the man doesn’t answer anything clearly.

In those 90 minutes, we see how the couple tries to make a deal with the man. Brutally honest conversations and revelations happen that bring discomfort among the three. What is the man’s intention? Will the husband and wife come out of this trap safely? Who will help them? We get our answers only in the end.

The story was co-written by Charlie McDowell, Jason Segel, Justin Lader, and Andrew Kevin Walker. The approach is grim and uncomplicated. There’s a tinge of hopelessness in the air, but it doesn’t bother the tech billionaire. Jesse’s character goes on and on about how he’s willing to offer the man money, his employment, his status, and so on. He frequently belittles his wife, Lily.

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Even though it’s a serious hostage situation, you can’t help but feel sorry for Jason Segel. We don’t know what he’s up to, but we can sense his irritation at being around Plemons’ cocky character. For a while, curiosity works brilliantly. The screenplay, however, slows down significantly after 40 minutes. The curiosity turns into impatience. Thankfully, the twists in 20 minutes amp up the thriller.

Jesse Plemons is one of Hollywood’s most talented actors. The last time he left a great impression on me was in I’m Thinking of Ending Things. The actor has once again outdone himself in Windfall on Netflix. He portrays the wealthy, pompous techie with such conviction that you want to tell him to “shut up.” Lily Collins is also superb as a wife who has a lot to say but prefers to communicate through her silences. Jason Segel is fantastic throughout the film and is an amazing fight for Jesse.

Netflix’s Windfall Review: Final Thoughts

Overall, the latest Netflix film is a slow-burn thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat as you wait for the big reveal. While the guessing game appears to be fun at first, you quickly lose patience as the plot becomes monotonous. However, the performances and the ending make up for the story’s patience requirements. The underlying message of the rich have it all, and normal people are nobody becomes quite evident often.

The film is now streaming on Netflix.

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