Bob Odenkirk‘s crime thriller has unveiled a brilliant new trailer ahead of its release next year. Normal follows an unassuming police sheriff (Odenkirk) who moves to a small, sleepy town in order to escape his troubled past.
“For Sheriff Ulysses, his provisional posting to the quaint Midwestern American town of Normal was meant to be a welcome respite from both his marital woes and recent moral injuries in the line of duty,” reads the synopsis.
“But when a botched bank robbery interrupts the municipality’s tranquil pace, a dark secret is inadvertently exposed, and Ulysses soon discovers that the town is anything but its namesake.”
The trailer, which was posted on YouTube, takes viewers on a pleasant tour of the charming town, introducing them to various happy faces along the way.
“You’ll never be far from our local mayor, dedicated deputy sheriff, a friendly mailman, cheerful storeowners, cosy eateries. Oh, and our town moose,” narrates Ulysses.
Magnolia Pictures & Magnet Releasing
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“Life in Normal is quiet, peaceful, predictable,” he continues, before the calm tone quickly shifts. “Until it isn’t.”
As he reaches for a door handle, the glass is shattered by a flurry of bullets and a violent montage ensues. In it, we see the sheriff attacked by a man wielding large knife, who he disarms with the help of a mallet.
Magnolia Pictures & Magnet Releasing
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The rest of the trailer features several exploding cars, a gory beheading and a giant shootout, promising an adrenaline-fueled thriller with plenty of twists.
Normal is set premiere across the US in April 2026, with a UK release date yet to be announced. It currently holds an 83% score on Rotten Tomatoes from 23 reviews, with The Film Stage calling it a “memorable ride”.
“Handling it all with a detached, shrugging sense of doom, Odenkirk proves the right man for the job at hand in both of the film’s two tonally separate halves, and he’s supported by a colorful cast,” said The Hollywood Reporter.
“Derek Kolstad’s script may be a recipe for carnage, but it takes a kitchen master like [director Ben Wheatley] to turn that into such a deliciously excessive spread,” added Variety.
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Divya is a freelance writer with experience in entertainment and lifestyle news. Described as a “telly addict” since childhood, Divya was able to translate her interests into a BJTC-accredited, Honours degree in Journalism and Media. After working in communications and marketing, Divya joined Digital Spy as a Freelance News Reporter. She has also written for various publications including Metro, Asian World News and TwitCelebGossip; as well as interviews, features and reviews on her own blog. Divya prides herself on her TV, film and showbiz knowledge, always offering (not so) fun facts to her long-suffering friends and family. From soaps to superheroes, Divya is the go-to person for tailored recommendations and up to date information.