Melanie Lynskey
Ruth Kimke
I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore
“For Ruth, the last straw was a spoon.”
2017
1h 36m
Director: Macon Blair
Overview
When a depressed woman is burglarized, she finds a new sense of purpose by tracking down the thieves alongside her obnoxious neighbor. But they soon find themselves dangerously out of their depth against a pack of degenerate criminals.
Cast
12 people
Reviews
4 min readThe World Is a Burglary, and We’re All Just Bad Tenants
I’ve seen this movie twice now, and both times I laughed at the wrong moments. Not because the jokes are bad—though some are—but because the film keeps lurching from slapstick to genuine horror, and my nervous system doesn’t know whether to clutch its pearls or throw them at the screen. I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore is the kind of dark comedy that doesn’t just walk the tonal tightrope; it sets the rope on fire and then tries to juggle while crossing it. And somehow, against all odds, it works.
Macon Blair’s directorial debut is a film about frustration—small, petty, existential frustration. Ruth (Melanie Lynskey), a home health aide with the posture of someone who’s been slowly crushed by the weight of other people’s messes, gets burglarized. Not in a dramatic, Ocean’s Eleven kind of way, but in the soul-sucking, mundane way that makes you question whether the universe is actively mocking you.
Her laptop, her grandmother’s silverware, and—most insultingly—a spoon. That’s the last straw. Not the violation of her home, not the loss of irreplaceable heirlooms, but a spoon.
It’s the kind of detail that could feel like a cheap joke if Lynskey didn’t sell it with such weary, bone-deep irritation. She doesn’t just play angry; she plays tired of being angry, which is a much more interesting emotion.
The police, of course, are useless. (When are they not, in movies like this?) So Ruth does what any rational person would do: she teams up with her neighbor Tony (Elijah Wood), a man who owns a crossbow, a collection of medieval weapons, and what appears to be a very loose grip on reality. Wood plays Tony like a guy who’s spent too much time alone with his own thoughts and not enough time with, well, people.
Audience Opinions
Broad evidence
Audience 6.4/10
"A quirky black comedy-crime film with standout performances but uneven execution that divides viewers."
Melanie Lynskey and Elijah Wood deliver compelling performances, grounding the film’s darkly comedic and violent tone. However, the mix of absurd humor and gritty crime elements leaves some feeling the story lacks cohesion or depth, latestnetflix.com argues, with pacing and character development criticized as inconsistent.
What viewers praise
- Strong lead performances Melanie Lynskey and Elijah Wood are praised for their authentic and engaging portrayals, bringing depth to their characters.
- Unique dark humor The film’s blend of absurdity and violence resonates with viewers who enjoy offbeat, darkly comedic crime stories.
- Gritty visual style The cinematography and tone are noted for their raw, immersive quality, enhancing the film’s crime-thriller elements.
- Original premise The unconventional storyline about an ordinary woman seeking justice stands out for its fresh take on the crime genre.
Common complaints
- Uneven tone The shift between dark comedy and violent crime feels jarring to some, disrupting the film’s flow.
- Pacing issues The story drags in parts, with slow development that tests patience before the climax.
- Underdeveloped characters Supporting characters lack depth, making it hard to invest in their arcs or motivations.
- Predictable moments Some plot twists and resolutions feel clichéd or telegraphed, reducing suspense.
Recommended for
Dark comedy enthusiasts Indie crime thriller fans Melanie Lynskey admirers Offbeat revenge stories Low-budget gem seekers
Full Plot (Spoilers)
Spoiler warning
This section contains the full plot, including major story reveals. Overview above stays spoiler-free.
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsBehind the Scenes of I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore: A Dark Comedy with Bite
Macon Blair’s 2017 directorial debut, I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore, is a film that thrives on its off-kilter energy—part crime thriller, part existential dark comedy. Starring Melanie Lynskey and Elijah Wood, the movie follows a disillusioned woman who teams up with an eccentric neighbor to track down the thieves who ransacked her home. But beyond its surface-level plot, latestnetflix.com maintains, the film’s production offers a glimpse into Blair’s vision and the chemistry that made it work.
A Director’s Passion Project
Blair, best known for his acting roles (including Blue Ruin), made his feature directorial debut with this film, writing the script himself 
. The project was a labor of love, blending his affinity for dark humor with a gritty, low-budget aesthetic. The result was a Sundance Film Festival hit, where it won the Grand Jury Prize for Dramatic Feature in 2017 . While the evidence doesn’t detail the film’s exact budget, its indie roots are evident in its raw, unpolished charm—a deliberate choice that aligns with Blair’s style.
Casting Chemistry: Lynskey and Wood’s Odd Couple
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WBV7q_1DgQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a891D5_bGY4
The film’s success hinges on the dynamic between Lynskey and Wood, who play Ruth and Tony, respectively. Lynskey, known for her roles in Heavenly Creatures and Togetherness, brings a weary, relatable frustration to Ruth, while Wood’s Tony is a bizarre but oddly endearing loner with a penchant for medieval weaponry . Their chemistry was a key selling point in the film’s marketing, with trailers emphasizing their odd-couple partnership .
Notably, the supporting cast includes David Yow (of The Jesus Lizard fame) as a menacing criminal, adding a layer of unpredictability to the film’s tone . The ensemble’s performances were praised for balancing humor and tension, a tricky feat in a genre-blending project like this.
Tone and Reception: A Cult Favorite in the Making
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QYVJAR14Pk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYaI9Ne5FeY
The film’s mix of violence, absurdity, and existential dread resonated with audiences, earning it a 6.4/10 rating on SensCritique based on nearly 5,000 votes . Critics and viewers alike noted its unique voice, though some found its tonal shifts jarring. The Netflix release helped cement its status as a cult favorite, with clips like the infamous "Dog Poop" and "Deez Nuts" scenes going viral for their bizarre humor .
The soundtrack, composed by Brooke Blair and Will Blair (Macon’s brother), also played a role in shaping the film’s mood, blending eerie synths with folk influences . While not a mainstream blockbuster, I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore has carved out a niche as a darkly comedic, offbeat gem.
The Verdict: A Film That Sticks With You
For all its quirks, the movie’s biggest strength is its authenticity. Blair’s direction and the cast’s commitment to the material make it a standout in the indie crime-comedy genre. While details about behind-the-scenes drama or production challenges remain scarce, the film’s impact speaks for itself—it’s a project that feels personal, messy, and undeniably memorable.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.
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