A storm rages. A younger woman is kidnapped. Her mom (Jurnee Smollett) groups up with the mysterious girl subsequent door (Allison Janney) to pursue the kidnapper – a journey that exams their limits and exposes surprising secrets and techniques from their pasts.

That is the logline for the newest Netflix film that comes with a gifted solid in an action-thriller situation.

Most of us would comply with Janney anyplace, and Smollett is gaining an identical group of followers. So, does that make Lou a film value watching?

From the surface, it appears like Hannah (Smollett) and Lou (Janney) have little extra in widespread than residing on the identical plot of land.

Hannah is a caring mom, doting on her daughter Vee. Lou is a survivalist whose closest pal is a canine, which, admittedly, she dotes on as a lot as Hannah does Vee.

Each girls have fled their earlier lives, discovering a recent begin far-off from the each day grind. However when Hannah’s ex, Vee’s father, grabs their daughter and takes off into the good unknown, Hannah and Lou uncover they’ve much more in widespread than beforehand expressed.

Netflix does loads of these motion pictures the place in any other case dramatic (or comedic) actors get down and soiled, having a ball in a sphere just a little outdoors of their bailiwick.

Smollett is not an entire unknown to adventurous roles, with each The Underground and Lovecraft Nation on her resume.

It is exhausting to search out one thing related on Janney’s resume, because it’s her signature wit that normally lands her a few of her finest roles.

However the Lou shoot finds them each out within the climate, overwhelmed down by rain and dirt, and it is actually enjoyable watching them get their arms (and all the things else) soiled for the sake of the story.

Janney is surprisingly adept because the secretive Lou, who hopes that discovering Vee is not going to reveal the darkest sides of herself.

As you’ll be able to guess, Lou shall be drawn additional into Hannah’s orbit as they battle for Vee’s return, which is able to imply outsmarting Phillip (Logan Marshall-Inexperienced), a former Inexperienced Beret with a legal previous.

This flick rests totally on the believably of Janney because the reluctant hero with an arsenal of survival expertise, and she or he succeeds superbly.

Though it is actually not a buddy movie, Lou and Hannah emerge as fighters prepared to simply accept and respect each other, doing so with out compromise to save lots of Vee.

The movie is beautiful to look at, with the moist, overgrown wooded surroundings turning into its personal character. It isn’t one thing to overcome however to simply accept and use to its benefit.

Loads of secrets and techniques nestled within the screenplay by Maggie Cohn and Jack Stanley will maintain the viewers guessing.

Every layer of the story provides to what’s come earlier than and does not really feel frivolous.

A lot of that comes from how the story is devised, with two succesful girls taking this journey collectively. There’s not loads of room for others, though Marshall-Inexperienced will get a dramatic arc of his personal.

Matt Craven’s Sheriff Rankin does not have a lot to do, however he is an trustworthy lawman with everybody’s finest pursuits at coronary heart.

Director Anna Foerster is clearly having enjoyable with the manufacturing. You may simply take a look at the manufacturing stills to see what’s transpired. The completed product does not disappoint; it is not simply fairly footage.

Lou makes probably the most of its solid, setting, and script for a extremely entertaining motion journey, so seize your popcorn and benefit from the flick!

Lou premieres on Netflix on Friday, September 23.

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Carissa Pavlica is the managing editor and a workers author and critic for TV Fanatic. She’s a member of the Critic’s Selection Affiliation, enjoys mentoring writers, conversing with cats, and passionately discussing the nuances of tv and movie with anybody who will hear. Comply with her on Twitter and e-mail her right here at TV Fanatic.