Backtracking over the plot, you can start to see the outlines emerging, some themes, some breadcrumbs scattered throughout. You know what’s happening, but you’re never totally sure why or what’s important to remember.

It’s manifestly not for everyone.īeau Is Afraid is also, I think, the least scrutable of Aster’s three features. Obviously, it’s great and I love it, and a lot of people won’t. It’s what would happen if all the stuff you worry about in your therapist’s office - that everyone was mad at you, that you’re a huge disappointment to your parents, that you’ll get accused of doing something wrong and not even know what it is - was true. If it’s about anything, it’s about guilt. It’s more of a nightmare movie, in which our main character, Beau (Joaquin Phoenix), is just having a pretty bad time of it. It is not, properly, a horror movie, though there’s horrifying stuff in it. It’s also kind of the plot of Beau Is Afraid, a demented unraveling of the hero’s journey from Ari Aster, the guy who brought you Hereditary, Midsommar, some stuff you can never forget seeing. I have this recurring dream - a nightmare, really - where I’m trying to go somewhere, I must be there, I simply must, but people keep making me late, and no matter what I do, I can’t make any progress. Proceed at your own risk! Spoilers! Beware!

Warning: Spoilers for Beau Is Afraid follow.

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