Men

Alex Garland writes and directs this British “folk horror”. Jesse Buckley is Harper, who heads off to a countryside rental property to give herself the time to get over a failed abusive marriage (husband played by Paapa Essiedu) which ended in the most traumatic way. She is met by the landlord Geoffrey (Rory Kinnear) who gives her the tour and instructions to the village. As Harper explores she realises it is not as quaint and friendly as she thought. Firstly she is pursued by a naked man through the woods, meets an unpleasant schoolboy, a judgemental vicar, a partially helpful policeman and then less than friendly locals in the pub (all played by Kinnear). Quickly it moves from creepy to increasingly threatening and dangerous for Harper.

This will not appeal to everyone and those that don’t like it really won’t like it. But that’s not me. I found this an intriguing take on abusive relationships, objectification of women and trauma, all wrapped in a folk horror that more than borrows from the David’s Cronenberg and Lynch.

The story is carried by two fabulous performances, Buckley takes us with her into this odd world, we feel her anxiety and fear but also the hurt and confusion she still feels over her relationship with her husband. Then there is Kinnear, who plays pretty much everyone else, from naked stalker to creepy schoolboy and does it brilliantly, injecting life and personality into each to the point you forget it’s him.

Where this will divide is its final act. It is a final act that goes all in on its horror and when I say all in, I mean all in, as It gets ever more fantastical and body horrific.

The choice of one actor playing all the male roles raises questions about what that means and while this will divide, films that make people think should always be welcome.

Men really won’t be for some. But it is ambitious and while not always succeeding it is different and refreshing. The two central performances are fantastic and while the third act will lose some. I found it smart, odd and intriguing.