2h 19m
Director: David Fincher

If you haven't seen this then you'll most likely want to watch it twice once you experience the twist. It's like Falling Down (1993) meets Split (2016). Falling Down because the protagonist is disgruntled with society and Split because there's an alter ego involved which becomes quite a surprising twist.

Cinematography wise it feels like the director is unbound with the camera moving seemingly wherever it likes. There are numerous subliminal frames in this movie which you might notice and which tie in with a joke later in the film. Early on they augur the arrival of the character who embodies the twist but you'll need to pause and go frame-by-frame to catch them - little easter eggs for those who can be bothered! If you can't be bothered I've included the early ones in the images for you.

The narrator is frustrated by the drudgery of life. He's bored with consumerism so he starts attending group therapy and becomes addicted. Marla is also a therapy group tourist and she keeps attending the same groups.

Tyler Durden is a soap salesman that the narrator meets on a flight. An explosion destroys the narrator's apartment. The narrator calls Tyler and essentially moves in with him.

The narrator finds that fighting is cathartic and helps him to express his frustrations. Tyler and the narrator start an underground fight club.

You'll likely recognise the famous dialogue, "The first rule of Fight Club is, you do not talk about Fight Club. The second rule of Fight Club is, you DO NOT talk about Fight Club..."

Tyler Durden has an unrestricted view of life, "It's only after we've lost everything that we're free to do anything".

Eventually, Tyler and the narrator start 'Project Mayhem' using the members of their fight club. Its goal should be self explanatory. Pay attention to the things they do, some are quite amusing.

The twist is that there is no Tyler Durden. The narrator blew up his own apartment. Had a relationship with Marla. Started the fight club and managed Project Mayhem himself. I'll leave you to work out what else he did throughout the course of the narrative.

Tyler is the narrator's alter ego. In many ways, he's the opposite of the protagonist. He's direct, he reflects the narrator's internal monologue. He isn't afraid to be honest and challenge the social norms.

Once you've seen the twist you'll probably find yourself watching it again because your mind wants to know exactly how and when that alter ego manifests itself.

Generally speaking, films with a narrator punctuated by montages don't work very well but in this case it reads brilliantly. Brad Pitt, Ed Norton and Helena Bonham Carter are on-point in the lead roles. The character of Tyler Durden is eminently quotable.

I won't spoil the ending for you but there is a larger plot being hatched..

You can definitely relate to the narrator as he breaks social norms and challenges his existence. It's liberating watching his character break all the rules. He certainly casts a shadow to enhance the quality of the light as it were. David Fincher puts together some of his sequences using pretty much every trick in the book. It's a masterpiece. If you like your film then you'll love this movie.





Trailer: