It has been nearly a decade since Chris Morris’ last film was released, the caustically funny Four Lions. The Day Shall Come ploughs a similar furrow, with less effect, but still provides some decent laughs.
Moses (Marchant Davis) is an eccentric preacher with a following of five people, and that includes his wife and daughter. Faced with losing the family home because of financial difficulties, he is tempted by an offer of cash from someone apparently representing IS. What he doesn’t know is that person is an FBI informer who is helping the bureau make headline grabbing arrests of ‘terrorists’, even though they know that they are nothing of the kind. To add to that, they are in a turf war with the local police. So, at one point Moses is trying to supply fake bombs supplied by the FBI to a Nazi gang who are actually undercover cops!
If this sounds like a lot to cram into less than 90 minutes, you would be right. The chaotic and at times frantic plot is not what makes this film enjoyable. It is mainly the script by Morris and Jesse Armstrong that does. It is a bit scattershot but it crackles with some superb dialogue, especially in the interaction of the FBI agents. It is there, as well, where the best performances are to be found. Anna Kendrick is wonderful as the agent looking to further her career but realising she doesn’t want to make Moses a scapegoat in this process. Also, Denis O’Hare is hilarious as her boss.
Whilst taking aim at American law enforcement and the government’s war on terror, this is a less daring film than Four Lions. Moses is a mentally challenged innocent, whereas the protagonists in Morris’ earlier movie were terrorists. It still has some sharp moments though.
Rating: 7.5 out of 10