Susan Morrow receives a book manuscript from her ex-husband – a man she left 20 years earlier – asking for her opinion of his writing. As she reads, she is drawn into the fictional life of Tony Hastings, a mathematics professor whose family vacation turns violent.
"Nocturnal Animals" tells a complex story about Susan, an art gallery owner, who receives a manuscript from her ex-husband, Edward. The manuscript, a violent thriller titled "Nocturnal Animals," mirrors aspects of their past relationship. As Susan reads, the film jumps between her present life, memories of her time with Edward, and the unfolding story within the manuscript. This layered narrative offers learners a chance to encounter a variety of vocabulary related to art, relationships, and crime, such as "manuscript," "gallery," "thriller," "violent," "memories," and "narrative." The shifting timelines also provide practice with different verb tenses, helping learners understand how to express past, present, and future actions. The film explores themes of love, loss, regret, revenge, and the consequences of our choices. The emotional intensity of the story provides a rich context for learning vocabulary related to feelings. Words like "fragile," "cynical," "driven," "panicked," and "unforgivable" are used to describe the characters and their experiences. The language used ranges from formal conversations in the art world to more casual and sometimes vulgar exchanges in the manuscript's storyline, exposing learners to a broad spectrum of English usage. The film's focus on dialogue also provides excellent listening practice, helping learners improve their comprehension of spoken English. "Nocturnal Animals" is a useful tool for English language learners because it offers a compelling story that keeps viewers engaged. This engagement helps learners absorb vocabulary and grammar naturally. The film's complex characters and their emotional journeys can also help learners develop a deeper understanding of human relationships and the nuances of human expression in English. Finally, the diverse language used in the film provides a realistic representation of how English is spoken in different contexts, making it a valuable resource for learners seeking to improve their fluency and comprehension.
Here are the first 15 of the more difficult words in Nocturnal Animals:
