Hell Hath No Fury attempts to show that World War II is still fertile ground for telling exciting stories. The movie is about a woman who has to take on Germany, France, and the United States single-handedly. It sounds like a futile venture but when there is freedom – and Nazi gold – hanging in the balance, a person will go to extraordinary lengths. But will they go too far?
The film ends up being a lot simpler than it sounds, but this does not make it any easier to sort through. The problem lies in the first part of the film. Marie – the film’s lead and supposed hero – is portrayed as a Nazi sympathizer for way too long. Good guys infiltrating villains is commonplace, but Hell Hath No Fury takes its time showing the true motivations. There should never be a moment when the audience thinks the protagonist has sided with Adolph Hitler.
This is especially difficult since so much time is spent with the character. Actress Nina Bergman is tasked to carry Hell Hath No Fury almost on her own. What this essentially means is for a good chunk of the beginning, anyone watching ether has to cheer for someone who is dating a Nazi, root against the person who seems to the hero, or just confusedly watch. This is not the kind of Catch-22 a story should be aiming for.
Once Hell Hath No Fury does right itself, things are much better. Bergman brings personality and poise to the role and in turn, the entire film. The rest of the cast play off her nicely and once there is a clear rooting interest, it is much easier to get into the movie. Ultimately, the opening act will decide how much a person enjoys things. If they are able to get through the misguided mystery that starts Hell Hath No Fury, they are in for a pleasant surprise. In the meantime, they will have to be content supporting a possible Nazi.
Hell Hath No Fury is currently in theaters and will be available on digital November 9
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