Diving Deep Into the Twisted Plot of "Black Rabbit"

Netflix's crime thriller "Black Rabbit" revolves around the profound metaphor of tumbling down a rabbit hole. The drama unfolds when ex-bandmates and restaurant-owners, Jake (Jude Law) and Vince Friedken (Jason Bateman), reconcile after being estranged. The dangerous blend of Vince's gambling addictions, Jake's hunger for success, and their shared traumatic past hurtles them down a path of unpredictability, co-dependency, bitterness, and even armed robbery. The eight-episode series draws the audience in, encouraging them to follow the principal characters down this tumultuous spiral.

"Black Rabbit," produced by married duo Zach Baylin ("King Richard") and Kate Susman, borrows heavily from New York's history while being set in the current day. Their restaurant, the Black Rabbit, is in every sense reminiscent of the Spotted Pig, the celebrated eatery of the mid-2000s, located in a previously hip waterfront neighborhood. The interpersonal dynamics and struggles of the lead characters, Vince and Jake, form a significant crux of the story. The pair are portrayed by Bateman and Law, with Bateman also directing the initial two episodes.

Bateman's character, Vince, a rehabilitated addict, starts as such a troublemaker that it becomes a challenge for Bateman to make the audience sympathize with him. Law's character, Jake, appears more suited to the instability but lacks the intrigue of other performances by Law, like on "The Young Pope" or "Skeleton Crew." Suppressing the series' tension for eight hours is a challenge for Baylin, making the middle stretch of "Black Rabbit" somewhat wearisome. The finale, however, gathers substantial momentum due to family disputes and exhilarating sequences. This implies that the audience is supposed to invest an extended time with two rather unsavory characters. In the hospitality realm predicated on a welcoming environment, the cold, inhospitable atmosphere of "Black Rabbit" pushes its boundaries.