NETFLIX Review: 'Earthquake Bird' not Earth-shattering but may leave you trembling

Netflix, 2019.

New on Netflix is the mystery/thriller, "Earthquake Bird," starring Alicia Vikander, Riley Keough and Naoki Kobayashi.

Grade: B

 Some movie just seem to work better on the small-screen, and "Earthquake Bird" is definitely one. It's not sprawling or all that impressive of a cinematic achievement, but it is compelling enough to keep your attention on a cold, winter night snuggled up on your couch.

Alicia Vikander stars as the timid Lucy, a translator now living and working in Japan. As the movie begins, we know something has gone horribly wrong, as Lucy is facing questioning from the local authorities as to the murder of her friend, Lily (Keough). Told in flashbacks and set against a dark, hot, steamy, neon-lit backdrop, "Earthquake Bird" revels in the shadows, and tries to unwrap this mystery one scene at a time.

It's basically a love-triangle gone horribly wrong, as most love-triangles tend to. Between Lucy and Lilly is Teiji (Kobayashi), a mysterious photographer who ends up becoming Lucy's boyfriend. The relationships are key to the story, and Vikander keeps us involved with a cold, subdued performance where we can tell there is just something...not right...bubbling underneath the surface.

Again, "Earthquake Bird" may not shatter the world or even register on many people's scales, but if you stumble across it on Netflix, and if these sorts of sensual crime stories are your thing, you definitely won't be disappointed.

Grade: B

Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery.
Run Time: 1 hour 47 minutes.
Rated R.

Starring: Alicia Vikander, Riley Keough, Jack Huston, Naoki Kobayashi, Kiki Sukezane.

Screenplay by and Directed by Wash Westmoreland ("Colette," "Still Alice," "The Last of Robin Hood").

"Earthquake Bird" is available on Netflix on Friday, November 15th, 2019.