Beau Is Afraid
A paranoid man embarks on an epic odyssey to get home to his mother.
- Released: 2023-04-20
- Runtime: 179 minutes
- Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy
- Stars: Joaquin Phoenix, Nathan Lane, Zoe Lister-Jones, Parker Posey, Denis Ménochet, Patti LuPone, Hayley Squires, Michael Gandolfini, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Kylie Rogers, Lily Bird, Richard Kind, Anana Rydvald, Amy Ryan, Maev Beaty, Bradley Fisher, Julia Antonelli, Bentley Hughes, Armen Nahapetian, Luis Oliva
- Director: Ari Aster
Comments
- platinum_daisies - 7 June 2024
I'm traumatized. Ari Aster must be stopped
Ok, I am a massive fan of Ari Aster in general, and Midsommer is my favorite horror movie. In fact, one of my favorite movies in general. Ari can really create an entire world in his films and they suck you right in. With his previous films, yes, they were horrifying but I enjoyed being sucked in. Midsommer, again, is such a beautiful and subversive film and the ending was the most beautiful, chilling thing I've ever seen.
Beau is Afraid, though, this one I DID NOT enjoy being sucked into. It truly felt like an unending bad trip, due to the length of the movie and the increasing levels of insanity as the "plot" progresses. I love surreal stuff, I love horror, and I have a strong stomach. Something about this movie though, was too much. NO movie has ever been too much for me, but this one was. I COVERED MY EYES while watching and asked my dad to turn it off (he didn't). My brother was shocked and said, "I've never seen you cover your eyes during a movie, EVER." (Oh yeah, don't watch it with your family, this is not fun for the whole family).
The first half was coherent enough, and there were tons of funny moments. However, as the movie went on, I had a feeling of unease and claustrophobia that continually got worse. Like I was trapped in a small, empty room that kept getting smaller.
The acting was perfect. Ok, actually, I'm not sure Joaquin Phoenix was actually acting. I have a feeling he was just minding his business when Ari and the crew just decided to play the world's highest budget prank on him, this entire movie, and film it all, then reveal it afterwards and pay him for his suffering. I would like to be paid for my suffering too, please.
The flashback scenes were accurate in evoking childhood memories of my own on vacations and cruise ships and such. This movie felt liminal, if that makes sense, which made it feel more personal and disturbing. Cinematography was great, music was great, effects, everything was great. Technically, this movie was well-made. It was just deeply, deeply upsettling. Somehow, much more upsetting than his other films despite being the least gory and technically horrifying.
But Ari, you've been exposed. He's been planning to make this movie all along. In fact, it was supposed to be his first film. He made Hereditary and Midsummer, gaining our trust, then put this nightmare out. Shameful.
I can't say this movie was bad or uncreative or unentertaining at any point, as it wasn't. It was just a horrifying, nightmarish experience. I couldn't sleep after watching it. The attic scene haunts my nightmares. Help. Blacklist Ari, this man must be stopped at all costs. - cnrdolivier - 4 May 2024
I'm tempted to rate it lower.
I entered this movie with an open mind, it being an A24 film... and was the first hour and a half, give it 2 hours a challenging watch that (to me) resembled a mans journey into madness. I enjoyed that theme. I'd watch that.
Our protagonist suffers some neurological issues, and he lives in a world filled with fentanyl users. I understand this because it's a current burning topic - the mental health and drug abuse of the masses.
Beau meets a family who want to keep him in their home as a grief 'replacement' for their son.' Again - grief and loss are topics we aught to ventilate.
But then by the latter half they jump the shark.
SPOILER ALERT:
Someone gets consensually sexed to death. And there's a cameo by a giant penis monster. Never thought I'd have to type that. Giant. Penis. Monster.
Stopped the movie. Not wasting another second of my life watching it.
Giant. Penis. Monster. - huskeroutlaw - 29 March 2024
You need to watch this movie high. This movie is INSANE
This movie is a trip so buckle up. Beau is an anxiety filled person who has a warped perception on life because of it and is an unreliable narrator at times. Everything crazy and bad that can happen does. The movie deals with anxiety mommy issues and is an experience and a ride for 3 hours. I can see why the mixed reviews because of just how unbelievable it is. But its a horror paranoid experience that I think needs to be had. Phoenix plays it well and is similar to his joker performance. The movie has lots of comedy moments that are hilarious and break tension well. Like hereditary you need to watch the background and dont get hung up on the movie making sense. This is a Well done to all.
