Eddington (2025)

Ari Aster takes a page out of the Coen Brothers' book in this darkly satirical, gritty crime thriller taking place in May 2020 during the early days of COVID, charged racial protests and civic unrest across the country. In the sleepy town of Eddington, New Mexico, a small-time sheriff (Joaquin Phoenix) decides to stand up to local mask mandates and run for mayor against the incumbent (Pedro Pascal) whom he holds a grudge against. And that's about all I can say without veering off into spoiler territory. It's sprawling and depressing as hell in the way that only Aster excels at, and it goes much further than you'd ever expect it to go. I can't say if the payoff was worth the price of admission, but it's the type of film that'll get stuck in your head for all the wrong reasons.

3½ coughs out of 5

Beau is Afraid (2023)

Beau lives in a perpetual state of fear and anxiety. (Same, Beau, same.)

Without going into specifics, he is drawn into anxious-driven journey inspired by the likes of Kaufman and Lynch. If you're paranoid, this movie will fuck with you deeply. It's three hours of a neverending hellscape, but the humor is so sharp and the directions so unpredictable, it manages to ensure your safe journey home. There is a looming darkness hovering over it that encapsulates that feeling of dread so well. I found myself holding my breath during certain scenes for no reason at all, while other scenes are cemented in my brain for life. Joaquin's performance contains so many subtle moments of brilliance which for some reason were not recognized by the awards committee. This film is palpable for no other reason than he is such a compelling actor. The whole thing feels like a fever dream and I'm just delighted there are still filmmakers willing to go there, knowing it will alienate 90% of its audience.

My pick for the best film of 2023, and I'm fairly confident I won't see anything this arresting again anytime soon. It's really fucking sad how much I identify with this character.

5 I'm sorry, thank you, sorry out of 5

Midsommar (2019)

A wonderfully grounded folk horror tale instantly bringing to mind classics like The Wicker Man, The Devils and Suspiria. This one takes its sweet time establishing its uneasy tone, but it rewards the viewer's patience with darkness that lurks in the familiar light of day. Not quite as iconic as Ari Aster's initial effort, but he capably handles the scope of the emotional material and demonstrates the potential for great things yet to come. Florence Pugh is a standout here.

3½ flower crowns out of 5

Hereditary (2018)

Writer/director Ari Aster comes swinging out the gates with his debut feature designed to be watched with all the lights out and the bolt locked tight. I don't want to reveal too much because it's a ride meant to be taken alone. 

This is a dark, evil little film. It'll sneak in the back of your skull and refuse to let go.

4 walnut allergies out of 5