Rose of Nevada – Movie Review (3/5)

ROSE OF NEVADA is a true genre hybrid combining drama, sci-fi, and thriller in a time-travel plot. Its very slowburn qualities will not be for everyone. However, the cast sold it well for me, and I loved the beating heart and fierce heartbreak of the storyline. Read our full Rose of Nevada movie review here!

ROSE OF NEVADA is a sci-fi drama that would probably speak to a much larger audience if it cut 20 minutes off the runtime. Of course, if that happened, then it wouldn’t have that Mark Jenkin vibe that fans of his movies have come to enjoy. I am admittedly still a little on the fence, but I find myself enjoying this style as well. Being forced to slow down can be good.

You’ll get lingering shots of details in nature, on a boat, or in a home. That’s just part of the deal. If you’re the impatient type, this might annoy you. On the other hand, it could be a good lesson in slowing down and taking in the world around you. With a runtime of nearly two hours, these shots do take up a lot of time, but it is very much a character-driven movie.

Continue reading our Rose of Nevada movie review below.

Love and loss

With Rose of Nevada, the title refers to a boat that has some very mysterious qualities to it. As a result, it’s a boat that has been the center of love and loss for generations in a small coastal town. It all began three decades earlier, but what’s time when this boat seems to travel outside the normal progression of time.

In the present, the Rose of Nevada, a boat that mysteriously vanished at sea three decades ago, returns. Suddenly, there it is at the remote fishing village. At the very same location where it came and went for the longest time, before it suddenly left for three decades.

For the local citizens, it’s a sign that things may be turning around. The past thirty years have been terrible, and their economy has tanked, causing people to flee their hometown. Now, they believe their community could flourish once more if they can get the fishing boat going out again.

It all begins innocently enough, but when the Rose of Nevada returns after just one successful voyage, everything has changed. They return to harbor as planned, but nothing is as they remember it. The town is booming again, and everyone appears decades younger.  This is wonderful for some of the crew, and a nightmare for others!

One returns to a long-lost love; the other one arrives in a place where their love has yet to be born.

George MacKay stars

While Rose of Nevada has a strong overall cast, George MacKay ultimately comes across as the main protagonist. He plays the role of Nick, who agrees to join the fishing crew in the present day. It’s the only way to earn enough money to help fix the home of the woman he loves.

Joining him on the ship is Liam, portrayed by Callum Turner (Green Room). Liam is a mysterious drifter who is more than ready to sail out again, looking to escape some unknown past. When they return, Liam finds his way home while Nick is completely lost in time.

George MacKay has delivered amazing performances in productions such as Femme (2023), I Came By (2022), and Marrowbone (2018). In Rose of Nevada, he is the beating heart of the story. Though, to be fair, the same can be said for Callum Turner as Liam.

Also in the cast are Rosalind Eleazar (Harlan Coben’s Missing You), Francis Magee (The Tourist S2), and Mary Woodvine (Enys Men). All talented actors and familiar faces, you bring the story together.

Watch Rose of Nevada in select theaters

Mark Jenkin is the writer and director of Rose of Nevada. He previously wrote and directed Enys Men (2022) and Bait (2019). As already mentioned, the style and overall vibe of Mark Jenkin’s work isn’t for everyone. Obviously, the same can be said for directors like Ari Aster, Osgood Perkins, or Jane Schoenbrun.

These are filmmakers who have their own unique brand and go all the way.

Even if that “way” is something others would consider unconventional, bad storytelling, or even just straight-up crazy. I’m realizing that while I enjoy their quirkiness and unique approach to filmmaking, my appreciation of each movie depends very much on my current mood and state of mind.

With Rose of Nevada, the slowburn approach didn’t do much for me, but the emotional heart of the story was a bull’s-eye. I think it’s a good thing (and sometimes even great) that we have filmmakers who do things differently. It isn’t for everyone, but it pushes the boundaries of storytelling and filmmaking, which is how the industry evolves.

I’ve seen the style of Mark Jenkin compared to that of Mike Leigh and David Lynch, which isn’t wrong, but I can’t claim I find it wildly accurate either. The aesthetic approach to filmmaking, however, does bear comparing to some of the other greats, who dare to go their own way. And shooting on a 16mm Bolex camera certainly ensures a very distinct look, which I appreciated.

ROSE OF NEVADA is out in Theaters in New York and Los Angeles on June 19, 2026.

Details

Director: Mark Jenkin
Writer: Mark Jenkin
Stars: George MacKay, Callum Turner, Emily Daglish-Laine, Yana Penrose, Mary Woodvine, Emily Daglish-Laine, Francis Magee, Edward Rowe