"Beau Is Afraid" Review

"Beau Is Afraid" is a horror film directed by Ari Aster, about an extremely anxious man named Beau (Joaquin Phoenix), who is bounced around from misfortune to misfortune as he makes his way to his childhood home to see his mother, with whom he has a complex and tense relationship. The film is absolutely bizarre and over-the-top in the strangeness on display, it is darkly funny in certain places, but the film is ultimately a confusing and bleak journey featuring a very good lead performance as hapless doormat Beau. This is not a film for everyone. If a hopeless downward spiral of an anxiety-ridden man thrust into horrific and strange scenarios does not seem appealing, you will probably not enjoy this film. Some narrative choices at certain moments halfway through can also turn the 3-hour long film into an overly long slog. I liked the film on the whole, but it is definitely an acquired taste. 

Score: Anxiety/Surrealism

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