Movie Breakdown: Beau Is Afraid

Pre-Screening Stance:

Ari Aster (Hereditary, Midsommar) has yet to make a bad film, so that’s reason enough to want to see Beau Is Afraid. With that being said, what the heck is it actually about? And is it a comedy or a horror film or both or something else entirely? Here’s hoping it surprises in a good way.

Post-Screening Ramble:

Well, Beau Is Afraid is a lot, and you’re not going to like it. Not because it’s bad, it’s just not a film that you can like. The story begins with an introduction to Beau (Joaquin Phoenix) as he is gearing himself up to return home to see his mother (Patti LuPone). Due to a mishap, Beau ends up missing his flight, which upsets his mom and kicks off a rather arduous journey for him. Ultimately, this is a film about a shaky, toxic as hell mother-son relationship, and it’s a hefty three hours of writer/director Ari Aster just working his shit out. Some of it is funny, a bit of it is moving, and all of it is a weird, artsy fever dream. Phoenix puts on a wonderfully layered performance, but it’s in such a cluttered film that it ends up buried beneath the weight of Aster’s insistence to put all of his anxieties and shower thoughts on the screen. Again, Beau Is Afraid is not a likeable film. I absolutely think it’s one that you can respect and appreciate – I mean, it’s a wonder it even got made – but it’s so personal and heavy that it just never really allows you to settle into it.

So, should you see Beau Is Afraid? Naturally, it depends on you. I think it’s worth a spin, but you shouldn’t expect anything in the realm of Hereditary or Midsommar – this is something else entirely from Aster and it will require all of your attention and energy. If you don’t feel as though you can go all-in in that way, then I’d advise you skip it.

One Last Thought:

Teen Beau (played by Armen Nahapetian) looks like a doll and/or a CG creation throughout this movie and it will absolutely shoot uncanny valley vibes right into your soul.