Sundance Review: ‘Frank & Lola’ Starring Michael Shannon, Imogen Poots, And Michael Nyqvist

There’s a bewitching and intensely intoxicating quality to the opening act of “Frank & Lola,” a seductive, romantic noir turned psychosexual drama from assured first-time feature director Matthew M. Ross. The movie immediately and effortlessly taps into a sensual moodiness — the nervous and excited feeling of early intimacy, coupled with the anxiety of rejection and the fear of losing something exhilarating. And while “Frank & Lola” never quite recaptures the nascent electricity and tension — transforming into something much more dark, paranoiac, and tortured — the impact of the first act’s tremulous emotions and haunting scenes are so lasting, the withdrawal bedevils everything that follows.

While falling head over heels in love overpowers and overwhelms, it can be a scarily destabilizing experience. Fear of getting hurt feels all too real a possibility for Frank (Michael Shannon), a talented but brooding and jealous chef, and Lola (Imogen Poots), a gorgeous but flighty...