‘Bunker’ Review: Penélope Cruz and Javier Bardem Are Riveting as a Married Couple Growing Apart in Needling but Schematic Psychological Drama

"Bunker," a film starring Javier Bardem and Penélope Cruz, is a stylish marital thriller that oscillates between satire and suspense. The movie, directed by Florian Zeller, is a French playwright-inspired story about a noncommittal Londoner, Miguel Moreno (Bardem), who wins architecture's top honor and is married to a book editor, Sofia (Cruz), who wants to move their family back to Madrid.

Sofia also longs to rekindle some romantic passion, and Miguel feels the same way, despite their diverging professional trajectories. The film cleverly juxtaposes its title card against a sledgehammer shattering concrete, highlighting the widening domestic cracks. Toby (Stephen Graham), a neighbor who resists gentrification in their London borough, becomes a foil for Miguel's affluence.

The movie humorously pokes holes in the rarefied social scene while exploring the career questions and marital struggles of the characters. Despite its visually rich depiction of a vast London home, the film struggles to balance its satirical and theatrical elements, ultimately leaving the audience yearning for a more fully explored narrative.