4 stars out of 5
I knew nothing about this movie before seeing it, except that Colin Farrell was re-teamed with the creative team from The Lobster. And I loved The Lobster. So it was a Lyft to the Edgewater Multiplex on $8.50 Tuesday. (I prefer $7 Tuesday at the Hoboken Bow Tie Cinema, but you have go where the movies are.)
Now, The Lobster was a very dark comedy. This one is not a comedy. (I think there was only one actual joke in the script, and I did enjoy it.) In lesser hands and minds, the film’s scenario could’ve spawned a by-the-numbers horror film. But director Yorgos Lanthimos, again with co-writer Efthymis Filippou, craft something different: a psychological thriller and morality play with an undercurrent of twisted absurdity.
Early in the film, it was fun trying to figure out where things were headed. It just seemed like the story of an upper-middle-class family: surgeon Farrell, ophthalmologist wife Nicole Kidman (my first-ever time trying to spell “ophthalmologist” and I failed miserably. Two h’s and two l’s? Come on!), their just-discovering-her-own-sexuality daughter, and their rebellious little-dude son. Jarring musical cues seemed to indicate that something would upset their idyllic suburban Cincinnati existence — but what?
Enter ruddy-faced teenager Martin, who has some undefined relationship with Farrell. Secret son? Big Brother program? Lover? Drug dealer? We don’t know, but it probably can’t be good. You know, on account of the ominous music.
Well, we do find out, and it isn’t good, and then things get worse, and I won’t say more plot-wise. But the film deals with guilt, and vengeance, and a family turning against itself and crumbling.
The cast is strong. A bearded Farrell is the movie’s center as the dad desperately trying to hold it all together. Kidman, looking quite well, is loving and supportive until she must go into battle mode. Raffey Cassidy as daughter Kim rocks Farrell-esque eyebrows as we witness the allure of teen freedom taking hold of her. Barry Keoghan as Martin is low-voltage creepy and he’s very good. Alicia Silverstone briefly turns up as Martin’s mom; I didn’t recognize her.
Note: There is no deer in this movie, so no need to alert the ASPCA.
Jack Silbert, curator