Colman Domingo makes living through 'The Madness' worthwhile: Review

Colman Domingo is a pretty smooth guy. Perhaps not so smooth that he can talk his way out of being framed for murder, but enough to carry an entire TV miniseries on his very well-defined shoulders.

In Netflix's new conspiracy thriller "The Madness" (streaming Thursday, ★★½ out of four), Oscar-nominated Domingo plays a good guy who's having a really, really bad week when he stumbles on a murder and then is framed for it. It's like "A Series of Unfortunate Events," except with a lot more gunfire, profanity and dismembered bodies, plus Domingo's penetrating glare.

"Madness," created by Stephen Belber ("O.G."), is the kind of mystery-box thriller that has thrived on Netflix in recent years, like the Harlan Coben adaptations or political and espionage heart-racer "The Night Agent." There's a hero and a lot of bad guys, dimly lit scenes, guns and dark coats. The conspiracy itself isn't so important (or well written). What matters is there are deep wrongs that need to be righted. and "Madness" slides easily into this slightly middling canon.

In fact, it might be an entirely forgettable series if not for Domingo, who's entirely unforgettable as a performer. His presence helps iron over plot holes and conveniences, as well as some choppy dialogue and stereotypical characters. If you like him and this genre enough, it would be entirely worth your time to dive into the "Madness." If you're not convinced about one or the other, then it's probably a skip.

As "Madness" starts, Muncie Daniels (Domingo) is living his best life as a CNN political pundit on the cusp of getting his own show. He heads to a remote cabin in the Poconos to write a book when he just happens to stumble upon the grisly murder of a white supremacist leader. Muncie tries to do the right thing, but the racist local cops and a quick frame job by the real killers quickly make him the primary suspect.

What follows is a whirlwind of conspiracy theories, amateur investigating and gun-slinging mania as Muncie tries to clear his name. It's all very fast-paced, frenetic and hyperactive, and Domingo is (as one might expect) very good at playing a hunted man. His co-stars are fine but not very important to the story, which is intensely focused on Muncie. But he does have to look out for his soon-to-be ex-wife Elena (Marsha Stephanie Blake), son Demetrius (Thaddeus J. Mixson) and estranged daughter Kallie (Gabrielle Graham). Various villains come and go, most notably Stu Magnusson (Bradley Whitford), a billionaire who may be involved in Muncie's predicament.

The biggest issue with "Madness" is one of convenience. Muncie is just too perfect of a target for all this bad luck, especially for people who need to cover up a murder. He's Black, he's famous, he's an activist and he's stubborn. He doesn't sit there and wait for someone else to figure it out; he has to investigate. And so he helps himself, and also makes everything so much worse. The story feels like a too-perfect straight line from here to there, and the conclusion isn't quite satisfying enough to make the journey feel worthwhile.

But Domingo often does. He has been a hardworking career actor for decades but has won acclaim and popularity from his Oscar-nominated turn in last year's "Rustin." And while the material sometimes flounders, "Madness" offers him the kind of star vehicle he deserves, in which the camera almost never leaves his deeply expressive face. When the plot or other actors falter, Domingo is there to save the day, even if Muncie can't save himself.

One thing "Madness" gets right is the way the internet and real life collide. Conspiracy theories about Muncie that drive hatred against him and his family happen almost entirely in the digital world, yet the real-life consequences are visceral and violent. The internet "isn't real life" only until someone comes to your doorstep with a gun. It's a lesson that even in 2024 our society still has yet to learn.

Muncie learned quickly. And he had only to suffer "Madness" as a consequence.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'The Madness' review: Watch it for Colman Domingo