MEN

3 OUT OF 5 STARS

Writer/director Alex Garland (Ex Machina, Annihilation) is swapping out sci-fi for folk horror, while pushing his surreal, ambiguous filmmaking to the breaking point with his third film, Men. Chock-filled with atmosphere, anxiety, and creepiness, Garland wades into toxic masculinity in a deeply disturbing and sinister manner that, to a certain extent, should not be too surprising. Though, when the third act reveals itself – that’s when his exceeding vision gets the best of him. The last twenty minutes are unconceivable and indescribable, but regrettably ends the film on a sour note.

Jessie Buckley is staggering as Harper, who is in major need of a getaway to the English countryside after witnessing her husband (I May Destroy You‘s Paapa Essiedu) falling to his death. Through flashbacks we lay witness to their abusive relationship taking its final breath with her telling him she wants a divorce and him threatening to kill himself if she goes through with it. Harper’s stay at a 500 year-old plush Airbnb is her chance to heal, but the many men and one boy (all portrayed by Rory Kinnear) ain’t going to make it easy for her. The torture, anguish, trauma, and contriteness isn’t going down without a fight.

This ravishing, subliminal nightmare revels in constant uncomfortableness, and Kinnear’s uncanny and chilling performance(s) is the strength behind it. Just the conversations his characters have with Harper will make your skin crawl. Garland exposes the hells women deal with day in, day out by cause of the monstrosities of men and questioning if everyone with a penis is one in the same. Men is my least favorite of the trio of films from Garland. The main reason is honestly because of the ridiculous ending that goes for broke in body horror that carries on for too long. Everything leading up to it is wildly immersive and off-putting, yet with such a WTF finale – there’s a piece of Garland’s vision taking shape that feels rather dissatisfying.

Brandon Vick is a member of The Music City Film Critics’ Association and the Southeastern Film Critics Association, the resident film critic of the SoBros Network, and the star of The Vick’s Flicks Podcast. Follow him on Twitter @SirBrandonV and be sure to search #VicksFlicks for all of his latest movie reviews.

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