'Beau Is Afraid' is a LOT (Review)

[@nicholasconklin9586]

I think the sheer length of it was part of the horror. The movie just kept going on and on and on and wasn't letting the viewer go easy

[@alazkaalazka6087]

I can see that

[@MicahMicahel]

I thought it was enjoyable all the way through. This is the way movies should be. Made only for some people. So many movies are made for everyone so much that they are for nobody.

[@Notkeiran]

@@MicahMicahel they still have to make money my friend. A studio can’t burn money to keep the house warm. I wish it was like that but unfortunately it isn’t. I feel like A24 won’t take as many risk since it bombed and they spent 35million to produce it. I hope it becomes a cult classic though and regain some of it back.

[@MicahMicahel]

@@Notkeiran there's something to say about brand recognition for a label or studio. For example the record studios used to fight for old guys like Paul McCartney or Bob Dylan. they knew they wouldn't get new great music but the prestige lends something to the brand. A24 looks now to be a studio/distribution house that cares about art over commerce. That's just a rationale but maybe it works that way. Maybe they got a contract with Ari Aster that assured he would do some money makers next. Stuff like this always makes me think billionaires are so lame. Imagine how many great movies would come from this. There is one billionaire that finances moves. Those stop morion animated movies .. one was about a kid with zombies. the art is really nice. Anyway the studio apparently exists because some billionaire's son really likes stop motion. Good on him. Usually billionaires are into politics or little boys.

[@VideoEssayWatcher5484]

I don’t even think that’s the main reason why the length was needed, every single act and even practically every scene tbh was crucial to the story and characters, SPOILERS‼️‼️‼️‼️ as im abt to elaborate on why these acts were so important, the creepy family was there to test Beau for as long as possible and was set up by his mother, everyone agrees that the first act was great and fun and obviously it was there to set up the entire basic premise of the movie and a lot of other things, the theater sequence is EXTREMELY pivotal to Beaus character and tells us so fucking much about him aswell as being very emotional and visceral, the memory sequences on the cruise both felt very personal nostalgic and visceral aswell as ALSO adding a lot to Beaus character and relationship with his mother, and the last act of the movie literally completely focuses on Beaus relationship with his mother which is the center of the entire goddamn movie. A lot of people were complaining abt how by the time they got to the last act it should’ve ended instead having another one even though it was arguably the most important act of the entire film.

[@thabreez456]

I think the biggest thing to take away from this whole movie is the fact that Armen Nahapetian is a real person and not a deepfaked Joaquin Phoenix. It still creeps me out that they found a actor who looks that close to A Young Joaquin Phoenix

[@who__cares__]

Lmfao you must live under a rock cause there's plenty of movies where a young actor looks just like the adult 💀

[@hamster2u396]

Wait that guy is not Joaquin Phoenix?

[@chickencharlie1992]

That's the most Armenian name I've ever fucking heard.

[@alesharks5135]

Really? That’s the biggest thing?

[@janimatics]

It’s crazy how they got to cast someone who looks so much like him. They literally look related

[@meatrat2994]

I loved the fact that when the movie ends… the credits don’t have any music or sound so you just hear the loud silence, confusion and disturb in the whole room

[@sallym8554]

Interesting! That would be very effective! I haven't seen it yet....my "movie buddy" is wary of the 3 hour run time.

[@schqrr]

Interesting damn

[@smokingduck507]

You can also hear him knocking on the boat and eventually he stops...

[@sleepy-peepy]

i’ve been telling people that the movie shows what it would be like if all of someone’s anxiety-induced catastrophizing were correct. "what if my therapist is in cahoots with my mom and is secretly telling her everything i say in confidence that she might be offended by." is such a naturally anxious thought that normally could only live inside an anxious person's mind.

[@MicahMicahel]

also if a person is too passive.

[@sleepy-peepy]

@@MicahMicahel agreed, but beau is raised to be a passive people pleaser from day one. down to watching his brother be locked in the attic for refusing to take a bath. his mom is mad he doesn’t insist the suburban couple bring him to the funeral, but he’s acquiescing to their schedules just like he would to her’s.

[@blakebramley9171]

That’s so true. It’s literally everything a mentally ill person has nightmares about

[@andyevans9145]

This was my exact reaction after watching. "What if someone's anxiety thoughts were true?" Cue a cascade of ever-worsening nightmare fodder fueled by the expectation that the worst will always happen

[@vibinwpsilocybin1424]

that’s why one shouldn’t partake in therapy. it’s a scam.

[@anonimojones4164]

That movie reminded me a lot of Franz Kafka’s book. Like when you tell someone that they are guilty of something they will eventually believe. Even if is not true.

[@flowerslept]

Which book?

[@giannily5581]

@@flowersleptsounds like they’re talking about the trial

[@IsaiahJNordeng]

I think this is an apt comparison. Kafka would read his books to his friends and they would all laugh together at the absurd tragedy. Soubds like this is what Beau is Afraid is going for.

[@MrHaffi14]

I was thinking the same thing 💯

[@MegaSnippezz]

Kafka meets Sophocles' Oedipus Rex.

[@alexandremachado9067]

Can't wait for the 4 hour directors cut

[@NoThoughtAllFeels]

Ari said in an interview that it's not happening. There was a 3.5 hour cut, but he got it down to what he thinks is the best version of the film, which is the one releasing in theatres.

[@bookeblade]

Not happening

[@Mattman0106]

Surely there will at least be some deleted scenes on blu ray or sum? Hopefully?

[@moonverine]

Hope he takes a note from the Coens and makes a shorter DC.

[@SenpaiAustin]

I’m gonna throw up

[@navilaphillips2845]

I think the only true thing that happened was that his therapist wrote "guilty"

[@tonybalony1811]

Wow. I completely forgot about that.

[@atlntcostv7293]

& the boat where he drowns himself

[@bigmichael2765]

Holy shit that ties into the ending, did not think of that

[@hippiecheezburger5457]

That’s a very good point

[@doodoo240]

i was wondering why his therapist wrote that down

[@LiamChaidez]

It’s always interesting to see when a great director has full artistic control. Especially a director with as crazy of a mind as Ari aster

[@mikahong]

Fr, that guy makes you think wtf is going on w him, and that's such an effective hook. is this really him, or is he just another image projection, i hope its not the latter.

[@BrennanLaBrie]

I can’t help but feel he should have been reigned in a bit, especially with the length of the film. It felt very obvious to me that this was an artist expressing their vision with no oversight, for better or for worse.

[@idab6864]

​@@BrennanLaBrie it was experimental and I for one loved it. I could've watched 5 hours of that reality Ari Aster created. I'm not even exaggerating. It felt so on point, despite the nebulous nature of it. Would you prefer directors all stick to a max 90 minute film and never explore beyond their current confines? It's ok that you didn't understand the film but don't be arrogant and act like your opinion is correct

[@Blep303]

This movie was a huge, but very appreciated, mind fuck. Aster really knows how to induce anxiety in someone and make you suspicious of everything. Dude is a fkn genius.

[@julesfloyd8756]

I think you mean full autistic control. I walked out of the theatre on this piece of garbage

[@darrenbrown7037]

Toni was the most disturbing character for me and the paint scene fucked me up more than anything I’ve seen in a long time

[@sirmicothesilly]

Probably not gonna watch it myself, so if you don’t mind recounting, what happens in this scene?

[@hchappy125]

@@sirmicothesilly so there’s this character Toni, daughter of the two people who take Beau it for a chapter of the film after they hit him with their car by accident. She’s super pissy and resentful of him being in their house, and nothing beau tries to say can make it better. She pressures him into hitting some crazy weed(?) at some point, and then it comes to a head when she brings him into her room and screams at him that they need to drink these two buckets of paint together. It feels awful because he just can’t find the words to stop her, and she ends up chugging a ton of blue paint and dying about a minute later

[@TheBlobIsCool]

@Sam Bourgeois that is a very interesting interpretation. 🤔

[@doodoo240]

@laymanlinguistdid you see the picture of roger in his mom's house?

[@CalvinChikelue]

The way she delivers the line “You can’t get fucked up with meeee?!” alone proves she has skill on skills & will always make me laugh whenever I think about it 😂

[@SirAbyss]

This was, by far, the most nauseating, disturbing, psychologically abhorrent experience I’ve ever had watching a movie. I already have my second ticket booked for tonight.

[@billyLego4855]

Oh your watching it again?

[@reaganfields]

you’re wild for going to see it again lmao, i don’t think i have it in me

[@Δ-Δ-Δ-Δ]

What is it about?

[@billyLego4855]

@@Δ-Δ-Δ-Δ I think when I go in there I be coming out existential

[@sharptojo6420]

@@Δ-Δ-Δ-Δ don’t look into it too much. Go see for yourself.

[@lindseylaurent9535]

I felt that this movie was about childhood trauma, he was suffering from the pain of his mother being a narcissist. I really appreciated the ending, I felt that the boat sinking represented what childhood trauma will do to you if you let it hold you back…you will drown in it. That’s what the whole movie was. There are terrible parents out there who ruin their children’s lives, this was one of them. His whole life was based on her rules and in the end…he drowned because of her.

[@Blackout0900]

When did you realize that you have your mother’s anger?

[@simplemortal5068]

wow, I’m definitely not seeing this movie after this comment, ny narcissistic mother has cost me lots of self work, tears and therapy, not willing to re open that again 😆

[@Blackout0900]

@@simplemortal5068 Have you tried forgiving her?

[@AbrasiousProductions]

Your absolutely right.. My own mother is a narcissist, so watching the film felt like my mother telling me she doesn't love me to my face.. For 3 hours💔

[@Blackout0900]

@@AbrasiousProductions Have you tried forgiving her?

[@kaseybrianne]

I was amazed by how funny it was- the "I'm so sorry" line read/timing had my entire theater laughing harder than any straight-forward comedy screening I've seen

[@looney1023]

That actor (no spoilers as to who it is) really did produce the biggest laugh in the movie. And Parker Posey. So fucking funny

[@Kanjo_Bazooie]

I lost it at that 🤣

[@tjhoneycutt2]

What part was that? I feel like remember the joke but forgot what part lol

[@kaseybrianne]

@@tjhoneycutt2 it was when he was on the phone with the UPS driver, and he hangs up and redials to test the 0% chance that he misdialed “Mom”- it was so good

[@tjhoneycutt2]

@@kaseybrianne that’s right 😂

[@longlivethesheet4561]

So in other words, it’s definitely an Ari Aster film

[@titlewave489]

it's fucking crazy. when the credits rolled and lights turned on instantly, not a person moved or said anything for a solid 3-4 minutes.

[@austinlegg7907]

@@titlewave489 same thing in my theater. It was just so weird. Even when there was a clearly comedic part my whole entire theater stayed silent

[@Wolfie-og4yj]

​@@austinlegg7907 how good it was?

[@howdy7734]

@@titlewave489 people are so cringe, mcu really ruined movie theater experience, i’ve seen people wait for post credit scenes to the godfather 1 original re run, like what the fuck???

[@peterwang5660]

@@howdy7734 they’re not waiting for a post credits scene. They’re horrified.

[@soph1111e]

Asters first two films already have this otherworldly feeling where the events are so cruel and horrific and presented with such an apathetic tone that they feel out of place with the real world. this film seems even less grounded than the others so I can only imagine the nightmarish qualities of his style are in full force. you're in ari asters world and that seems like a really scary place to be

[@milesbbop9563]

I prefer grounded. If not everything just feels fantasy and fictional.

[@shaneboyd8792]

I saw it last night, and yeah... you never have a solid foot on the ground throughout the full 3 hours lol

[@Abigail-py3vk]

Yeah it starts off with his character living in basically Sodom irl lol

[@ComedicAsmr]

First… two?

[@Notkeiran]

@@ComedicAsmr Hereditary and Midsommar

[@Kianleahy]

This movie made for the most interesting first date movie, but I think it will work out because we were both speechless but also both really like it.

[@peterwang5660]

Trauma bonding lmao

[@shroomshroom5945]

I did the same thing 😂

[@gigachad192]

Movies are the worst idea for a first date period, let alone this movie, lmao.

[@Jason_differ]

Think I’m doing the same tonight

[@Notkeiran]

@@gigachad192 yup. You sit in silence for 1.5+ hours next to the person you want to get to know awkwardly judging if her accidentally touching your leg with hers was a sign to make the move.

[@laineyk5607]

everything he creates gives me the uncanny valley effect, they always leave me slightly disassociating in a good way

[@kylekuzma982]

I was disassociating in the theater badly 😭

[@laineyk5607]

@@kylekuzma982 i literally started astral projecting above my body when i saw this in theaters

[@kylekuzma982]

@@laineyk5607 😂😂 fr I was questioning my own existence.

[@jaredarenas7542]

As soon as the movie started with the cold open of Mona yelling at the doctor asking why her son wasn't crying, my heart was POUNDING and would not stop through the whole runtime

[@MsTinkerbelle87]

@@laineyk5607 y’all are so dramatic 🙄

[@Frenchaboo]

Joaquin Phoenix seems physically incapable of playing in normal movies, and it gets me worried about his mental state sometimes. That guy's already been through a lot.

[@timcardona9962]

Phoenix is mostly drawn to roles that challenge him; anything less just doesnt interest him. It's called being an artist

[@norm-bb3bb]

​@@timcardona9962 And some idiots say he's one note

[@AbrasiousProductions]

I wish people worried about my mental state...

[@TopHatPlushDjdjendndke]

yea like joker 2 man did that challenge him huh

[@ratzhence]

the way i described it with my friends after seeing it was: "I was begging for it to stop. I didn't want it to end, but I wanted it to Stop Going". i LOVED the fact it was 3 hours, every scene was valuable and enthralling. it really hypnotized you into this nightmare.

[@AbrasiousProductions]

watching the film almost gave me a heart attack, I literally almost died, I'm not even joking, I'm unhealthy so I chugged an energy drink not expecting such an experience and my heart was inches away from exploding, I even felt a horrible chest pain after 3 hours of crying

[@ggreat1999]

This is why i hate when movies are made by a24 because deep down i know they’ll never be released in theaters in my country which sucks. damn y’all so lucky seeing such gems in theaters.

[@stellacollin6347]

I was honestly surprised they had early showings in select theaters in australia, grabbed that ticket asap and was incredible seeing it on the big screen, definitely reccomend researching if any indi cinemas in your area are showing it.

[@cracklord400]

a24 doesnt make movies mate

[@mzschmidt3937]

@@cracklord400 wtf?

[@alexd4566]

@@mzschmidt3937 A24 primarily distributes films, meaning the company is responsible for marketing and making deals with movie theaters and online platforms such as Netflix, Hulu etc. This is about 90% of their work. The other 10% is film production, i.e. funding the project and collaborating on the actual creative filmmaking process. So do they “make” movies? Not really, producers and directors do, in this case Ari Aster and Lars Knudsen.

[@enevalesa.2604]

That's so sad, but I can't help but share my joy when I learned that the film will be shown in my country. A country with which, quite reasonably, almost all film distributors have stopped working. I bought the tickets the moment they became available for sale!

[@atreesto]

The sense of catharsis you talk about is what Beau experienced when he was IN the play. I think it shows how temporary that feeling can be when you get it through consuming art.

[@wavvy94]

Saw it last night, and yeah the entire film really felt like how I sound when I'm trying to describe my dream to someone. More of a nightmare but yeah

[@eben7248]

I think it was a less perfect movie than Hereditary or Midsommar, and yet it is the one I most deeply connect and relate to. I rated it lower, but if I had to pick only one of Aster's three features to have been made, I would pick Beau in a heartbeat. I'm so glad this movie exists.

[@johnathanargow4762]

(Spoilers maybe) I was emotional at the end. Not in a good way (depending on perspective) I grew up being gaslight by my stepfather by everything i did and it really f*cked me. So when the ending happened i was forcing myself not to crumble in the theater. I was shaking. I want a happy ending or something that would make him break out or finally stand up for himself. I was mentally begging for anything good to happen. But it didn't. It just ended they way i always feared the end would be. Nothing. No bravery, no hero, no answers. Just drowning. And the end. Great movie. But I will never watch it again. It hits too close home.

[@headmelter]

It also felt like my life being retold to me, I walked home in tears at 12pm after seeing it with a date - I will not be revisiting this trauma inducing film ever again (hope you’re feeling okay after, this film has FUCKED me up x )

[@patrickniggli9686]

had the same experience, brought back childhood trauma I never thought about again for the last 5 years.

[@Roseforthethorns]

I spent the entire time begging for the film to just give Beau a BREAK

[@jiboyoseo]

things will get better (unlike the film, I guess), hugs!

[@devsox1]

I'm so sorry and hope that you're able to heal from what you've been through

[@OhMars]

This film is amazing, the emotions are so bipolar and you can smile one second being happy that beau is in a scene that’s not so chaotic then all of a sudden the reality kicks in and he’s having sex with a corpse, it’s an amazing film

[@idab6864]

I'm trying to understand how she died

[@DipolarApathy]

Spoilers So she was definitely a representation of his mom but… do you think he fucked her corpse? Or at least jerked it to his mom then felt disgusted when he remembers she’s dead

[@loganharper5138]

@@idab6864 nut allergy

[@tonybalony1811]

@@loganharper5138 thank you!!!

[@nusoul]

@@idab6864 mans did drop the world's biggest load inside of her, so think from her climaxing herself it did her in. I also had a weird feeling she had a heart murmur like him maybe hinting at the fact they were related (fucked up theory I know).

[@bwidge8073]

idk if it’s because i’m high but i was so sad during the whole thing. seeing someone with probably ocd struggle with everyone infantilizing him and not taking him seriously. idk i just felt dread that no one would believe him n shit. kinda felt like neurodivergent experience. and the fact his mom dodnt take it seriously. idk shit made me sad. not a good high movie haha. i loved it tho

[@tonybalony1811]

I completely agree!!! I wish I wasn’t so high before :(

[@_SunscreenQueen_]

Same. I have borderline and have also had a horrible shitty events in life and my family treats me like I need them (I’m 25). I’ve lived abroad alone, I’ve lived in La but once I was diagnosed my mom has gotten very controlling like I don’t know how to do life.

[@Blackout0900]

@@_SunscreenQueen_ Have you tried forgiving her?

[@_SunscreenQueen_]

@@Blackout0900 I hâte the idea that a victim needs to forgive. Her abuse caused my bpd so there’s anger

[@Blackout0900]

@@_SunscreenQueen_ And what caused her to be the way she is? Do you think she was just magically born with the abuser gene? Or that someone did wrong by her, like she did to you? When did you realize that your anger is your mother’s anger?

[@onthesillyscreen7241]

To be honest, I think I was more afraid than Beau.

[@semicharmedlives]

this movie truly felt like if larry david and the safdie brothers made a fucked up horror comedy

[@whitetpoison]

Most accurate description of this movie thus far

[@braveninja111]

I need a Seinfeld horror movie that’s the only reunion that would work

[@PepperHand]

That was a better review than the video. I fully understand what I am walking into now, thanks.

[@UGLY-MONEY17]

Lmao that actually makes a lot of sense

[@adamgates1142]

I wish! More like Charlie Kaufman remakes Truman Show after being lobotomized.

[@futuremiIf]

i had NO IDEA what i was getting into while watching this but god did i love it. as someone has dealt with narcissists in my personal life, i got the message and meaning of it and loved it. i kinda just wish it wasn’t as long so it could’ve conveyed that message a bit more. i was kinda just going along for the ride and having fun until he gets to his mother’s house and [SPOILER] the part where his mother listens to his therapy sessions and starts attacking him over what he said HIT (something similar happened to me with my mother and a doctor when i was younger, and so i nearly cried) but then i was thrown back out of it with the attic scene overall i kinda loved it though like the message hit and i like it the more i think about it :)

[@devsox1]

Omg I'm so sorry you experienced something similar? That's awful. I had a messed up childhood but my mom was and still is an amazing mother and this movie just made me love and appreciate her even more than I already do

[@seamusdempster]

Such a cool movie. I do think beau is a bit more fleshed out than you give the character credit for, I think part of why he may have come across as simpler is because a fundamental part of his character is that he is deeply traumatized by his mother's codependency and as a result is just a walking ball of anxiety experiencing just the absolute least ideal set of events someone in his position could experience. He feels trapped because he is, he doesn't take action and lead the story in any particular direction because he grew up in constant fear of his mother convincing him he was failing to even out the "love" she gave him. I think the scene where my man finally gets to cum was really important because of what he says after. This sort of release he's never known was even possible gives him this brief break from his worldview that has fear and guilt and terror and confusion woven into it when he says "I always thought I was going to die", not just about sex but about every aspect of his life. When he freezes in one spot for hours at a time, he's an animal curling up in self defense. He's quiet and timid and powerless as a result of trauma and improperly managed mental health issues and I think that's one of the strongest points of the movie. He's also 100% schizophrenic

[@fionagallagherapologist5968]

great take

[@ice-choco-Icecream]

You know this movie is a jewel when it gives sense to the obscene drawings of the walls at the beginning

[@bmac0]

Wait what

[@Roseforthethorns]

OH WAIT IT DOES

[@CJusticeHappen21]

You reach this point in the film (for me it was the hotboxing minivan scene, not sure why) when you just think, "I don't want to do this anymore." But I'm glad I forced myself to sit through my discomfort. The animated story scene was worth everything else.

[@halfstaffmusic]

Finished watching it a few hours ago and honestly the more I think about it the more layers of brilliance I find. All the metaphors played off as reality, heightening the absurdism. The setting as essentially Beau's own mind. The paint scene. The live footage scene. And this whole insane journey to literally just go to his abusive mom's house. Absolutely brilliant.

[@seanplace2471]

I honestly did not feel anxious at any point in this movie, it really felt like a straight up comedy to me and it's the most I've laughed at a movie in a while. Really enjoyed it.

[@GoB1996]

I think that’s one of the most beautiful things about it. It’s excels at horror comedy. I think the comedy is the glue of the movie and the horror is there for you to ponder on. No necessarily frightening images, but messages

[@titlewave489]

@@GoB1996 Penis monster.

[@halfstaffmusic]

@@GoB1996 oddly enough, the paint scene is one of the most unnerving scenes i've scene

[@halfstaffmusic]

the absurdism is hilarious until you see the deeper, darker metaphor beneath

[@israelvelasco4340]

The 1st 45min gave me non stop anxiety.

[@j.daltoncooper8213]

Late to the party, but simply put, this is the most “You okay, dawg?” I’ve felt about a writer-director in a long time. Was also jarring to see Joaquin in a primarily reactive role rather than his usual ambiguous, yet acceptably proactive protagonist role. Ari, we love you and we’re here for you lmao

[@Cinnamon420]

Beau is the feel bad comedy of the year

[@lukeg1940]

The vibes from this review makes me feel like this is the anti eeaao

[@senoj.rednaxela]

Nathan Lane said in an interview that this was like eeaao for Jewish people 😂

[@flyingmonke]

Not even close

[@JohnnyNada]

It's actually great unlike EEAAO

[@SaraStar7373]

it’s way more narratively complex than eeaao, definitely less friendly to the casual viewer, but they have the same family trauma meets unreality theme. I would say it’s anti eeaao because unlike eeaao it’s very mean spirited (not a criticism i think it’s intentionally so). beau is afraid shows a much crueler and unsafe world

[@urmomshouse978]

it depicts awareness of anxiety and intrusive thoughts really well

[@diegomichel3242]

But does it have a realistic depiction of a panic attack 🤔

[@squimbwarftestiballs]

@@diegomichel3242 yep, multiple imo

[@butchdeloria2995]

@@diegomichel3242 i would say the end is a realistic depiction

[@skibididiefortnite]

Schizophrenic. He was taking zyprexa

[@butchdeloria2995]

@@skibididiefortnite oh ok

[@RiSK907]

when you say "going to your moms house and not being able to (come, cum...?)" which are you referring to lmao that was very confusing to me

[@marcoescobar447]

headed straight here after hearing that 😂

[@germanleal]

You'll know when you watch the movie lol

[@gracekeddy]

karsten is saying he's sexually repressed and maybe refers to an oedipal complex i think

[@maxresdefault_]

The latter... From what I can tell it's part of the plot that his father died in climax and that is a hereditary illness

[@israelvelasco4340]

You could say " going to your mom's house and not being able to cume"

[@hungtotheover3385]

I’m so so happy you enjoyed this! 🥰 Ari is my favorite director and the experience of watching his movies have always helped me through tough times. I’m going to get see it in three hours and I cannot wait! 🎉 EDIT: Just got back from seeing and WOOOWWW that was insane! Worth every penny! 🤩 10/10

[@JC19021]

Report back

[@sethryan1397]

commenting to hear a report

[@yaboi3441]

Same

[@just2scare]

bro this shit was absolute fucking batshit crazy like a goddamn rollercoaster

[@sousleciel2416]

Omg what's wrong with me, i read your comment as "Ari is my favorite dictator" 🤦‍♀️

[@erikgonzaga8132]

this movie was absolutely insane and at first I loved it for that. After around the hour and a half mark (after the first two acts?) is when it lost me a lot. At first I was so enthralled by the movie and so glued to the screen, but I do think it drags and finds itself to be saying the same thing over and over. I do think this is a "what if joker was a comedy" movie which is a good thing 😂 towards the end however I was just starting to wonder what even was the point of the movie

[@itsjustme4371]

exactly my thoughts! I really loved some scenes but after some time nothing was making sense to me anymore and when the big penis showed up I just gave up. Sometimes less is more imo

[@russell35]

There is humor to the movie. But its like the absolute best knock knock joke you've ever heard, but you're at a funeral and its actually just a nightmare. Then you wake up and you're at a different funeral and every one is staring at you.

[@nickschmitt9936]

The experience of watching an Ari Aster movie in theaters is amazing. We were laughing way too much -- as soon as he raced the tattoo guy for the door, we kinda knew what we were in for lol.

[@JahazielCastillo]

I was on the fence about this movie, mostly because of the runtime but "being the most anxiety induced movie since Climax" really sold it to me. I have to watch it now.

[@j-dog8517]

Climax is my favorite horror movie

[@titlewave489]

while there are moments where you can't help but laugh, legitimately every/every other scene leads into an anxiety inducing bad trip.... DO NOT WATCH THIS MOVIE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF PSYCHEDELICS....

[@bobbyp8009]

I had more anxiety watching Good Time

[@sousleciel2416]

@@bobbyp8009 Different strokes for different folks

[@jackpeterson305]

@@titlewave489 I watched the movie today on shrooms and had the best time. I would actually recommend watching this on psychs if you're experienced because the whole movie is so trippy and beautifully shot. The movie definitely made me feel super anxious at times, but as someone with anxiety, I related a lot to the character, so rather than giving me a bad trip I was moreso blown away by how well Aster was able to communicate those feelings to the audience and bring them into the world of someone with that condition.

[@misjathecinemalover]

I loved the trailer, and this movie looks SO great! I can’t wait to see Joaquin Phoenix go crazy again!

[@jcw8719]

I didn’t like it

[@oliverbleuyoutube]

I saw this on shrooms as Joaquin Phoenix said “not to do” and had a 3 hour BLAST

[@dannycampbell6431]

I wouldn’t describe anxiety personally; it felt like a schizophrenic episode throughout the entire film.

[@jpeg204]

At face value it definitely feels like schizophrenia, but conceptually I think it is about feelings of fear, anxiety, paranoia, self-hatred, intrusive thoughts, and the film that's presented is essentially what it would look like if all of those thoughts and feelings manifested in reality and turned out to be true, which is sad because it shows how much it can effect a persons psyche, but its also hilarious because it shows how silly those anxieties and worries and fears can be a lot of the time.

[@danieltucker8382]

It’s definitely about schizophrenia. And I’d say how we as a society will look but not act to help our mentally ill people.

[@amyjones2063]

I definitely agree that it explores lots of different effects of mental health that can be symptoms of several disorders. I watched this with my best friend (I’ve got ocd, with anxiety, she’s bipolar(which can turn into schizophrenia down the line) and while she thought he presented as schizophrenic we both could relate to certain symptoms, like the anxiety, or intrusive thoughts. I think that’s what makes this cool on that front, so many people with different mental health can all relate in their own ways, through different experiences, yet we’re all somewhat understanding it in the same way

[@emilymccue440]

Love that you mentioned Synecdoche New York in this because I ended up watching that for the first time the same day I saw Beau is Afraid and damn was it a mindfuck of a day

[@Grushvak]

"You were never really here", also starring Phoenix, is to date my favorite depiction of anxiety disorders on the big screen. I felt incredibly seen and understood in many of its less violent but incredibly tense scenes. I'm really excited to see Beau is Afraid, to see if it manages to top that.

[@idab6864]

It definitely does imo

[@justinkroboth360]

YES. You Were Never Really Here was fucking phenomenal. The scene at the lake, with his mother, was so beautiful and touching - it hit a nerve. Beautiful film.

[@yaboi3441]

I really wanna rewatch and just focus on how meta the film is Obviously the final scene is the most blatant, but the way Beau is lit in most shots is so noticeably basic 3 point setup it feels intentional in a movie like this. It also looks like he’s got a light reflecting in his eyes in a lot of the movie too. Great stuff, happy he was given the reigns on the entire thing.

[@LeonardoDiCapri-Sun]

The first part of this movie captured EXACTLY what my most frequent anxiety dream is like… it was disturbing how uncanny it was

[@enriqueortiz5036]

Ooooh same. Most of my nightmares are somebody/a group of scary lookin’ people trying to somehow assault or mug me.

[@MatthewGhirardi]

This movie felt like an acid trip but without doing acid

[@tipsycat27]

I had lower expectations for this movie just because Hereditary is my absolute favourite. The combination of horror and humour in that movie is really really successful, and that's a really really hard thing to do. But absurdity and humour is far easier to achieve and for that reason I was worried that this film would be more of a dud. Whilst I didn't enjoy it as much as Hereditary, the sheer amount of effort and talent and fearlessness in this movie was really surprising. It was worth the 3 hours of almost continuous stress and anxiety

[@rjafitzgerald]

10/10 for the editing and for a perfect reference to The Red Shoes 🙌

[@YourAverageNiche]

So basically Ari's "Beau is Afraid" is like Inarritu's "Bardo": both are larger than life experimental epics held back by their runtime and passive characters rather than character development. A ride into the mind. True that Bardo made me fall asleep halfway, I fear Beau is Afraid is gonna be the same. Regardless, both would surely have "The Beauty Of" highlights over and over. Visually, they look stunning.

[@bordidellapizza]

I think Inarritu was waaaaay more pointless ans boring doing Bardo, but Aster manage this movie really good and way better.

[@ljbproductions3350]

You’ll definitely not fall asleep 😭

[@SaraStar7373]

good luck resting during this movie pal

[@idab6864]

I'm honk shooing at this comment

[@justinkroboth360]

"Held back by passive characters" - if Beau had full agency, this would be another film. Like, literally, it's not held back by it - it's defined by it.

[@CallMeConstantine]

I saw it last night and we laughed several times and people turned around and stared at my group and honestly…that fear of not knowing if it was even okay to laugh and breaking through to own it and just not care but then immediately be presented with a scene that is definitely not funny…was all an emotional roller coaster in my own observation-production.

[@sharptojo6420]

This is one of those movies that once it’s over, everyone in the theater just walks out in silence.. 😂

[@complicatedshoesproductions]

This really felt like a more personal version of Mulholland Drive. I can't express how much I loved this film. I feel like it was made for me lol. It sounds pretentious, but that's how I feel.

[@HyperDrivedGG]

It was the funniest weirdest most confusing movie I’ve ever watched and I loved it (enough to watch it again? That’s to be decided)

[@hotdogwaterjug]

unfortunately i won’t be seeing this in theaters cuz i don’t wanna go alone but i’m so excited to see this

[@emiliorodriguez70]

It’s perfect to me in the way as soon as it was over I turned to the audience and questioned the whole movie. I love it because I think about it.

[@tonybalony1811]

My theatre was completely silent after.

[@KenjiMcGuire]

8:15 Karsten really said “insaneo style”. Joel Haver would be proud

[@frogringtone]

yes!

[@originaozz]

Best use for "Don't try to understand it. FEEL IT." I'm so used to analyzing every bits of a film, but with this one I just let the good times roll and weirdly that just made it the most enjoyable Ari Aster experience for me.😂

[@Marcusml333]

Midsommar is one of the best movies I've seen in years, so I definitely need to see this one too.

[@coraphillips5873]

Came to KZbin to watch a video about this movie since I saw it yesterday in theatre and I'm so glad that YOU made a video. I've always enjoyed your video essays and appreciate you keeping up on it!

[@idfk.n3t]

i really loved this movie !!! i think it perfectly depicted how emotionally abusive and overbearing narcissistic parents fuck up their kids. i was able to pick it up from the opening scene and yet, every scene the mother was in had me nauseous and on edge, which i really respect this film for

[@Dartanyoogles]

I can't wait to see this! I loved Hereditary and Midsommar, and this looks like Aster's most personal, creative, original, and artistic movie yet! Not only do I think this will be his masterpiece, but I think it's going to be the best film of the year, and I almost guarantee that it will win best picture!

[@Chimken_nunget]

I loved the movie too, but there’s no way in hell it gets best picture. It’s too divisive, and while I think most of the controversial choices it makes work (even the 3 hr run time), idk if the farts at the academy will appreciate them. Hopefully it gets sound or production design (maybe even best director??)

[@RatatRatR]

It's certainly my favorite movie of the year so far. By a lot.

[@horrorclips7629]

Yeah after the like the first 2 and a half hours I kinda just let in and understood, “this is just a 3 hour nightmare”

[@samfilmkid]

My personal theory is that everything that happens after Beau gets hit by the ice cream truck is his dying fever dream or something, which explains why so much that happens doesn’t have any logical sense to it. It’s pure emotion.

[@KhaotiKlan]

Going to see it on 4/20 blazed af. Excited!

[@rafaelnahafahik7781]

Bro that's today, or are you already blazed?

[@Heywoodjablome1964]

Yasssssss

[@nycgirlxx]

please report back so we know you aren’t dead. i usually take edibles before seeing movies in the theater cause i live within walking distance to one, however this was only playing at a theater i had to drive to so i was stone cold sober consistently going “thank god i’m not high rn” throughout the whole movie

[@Heywoodjablome1964]

@@nycgirlxx shit

[@nick-xv3km]

bro did u survive

[@bev9708]

It opened today here in Paris and there were literally 3 of us in the big new plush cinema complex in the city… lovely huge reclining seats is definitely the way to get through this one !!! We all just sat there stunned right through the credits!!

[@A_YouTube_Commenter]

Which cinema in Paris?

[@bev9708]

@@A_KZbin_Commenter Pathé Parnasse ... all newly renovated to "premium" seating, lovely!!

[@ThestuffthatSaralikes]

What a cast!! I’m looking forward to this. Hope my IMAX will have it.

[@matthueloose7172]

Joaquin Phoenix is Scared

[@dwaynekeenum1916]

He has anxiety

[@A_YouTube_Commenter]

I loved this movie. It captures human misery in it's purest form.Some self induced, some taught.He just cannot overcome this.

[@radioguy1667]

It's kind of funny. The same thing happened with Babylon... I (personally) wished the movie was longer. Specifically, that odyssey part before he gets to the house. I think there are so many other situations Beau could have ended up in and it would have been amazing. I totally woulda loved a 4 hour version of this.

[@ariana_208]

It was interesting forsure Honestly I was really disappointed and wanted to walk out of the theater, definitely did not need to be three hours long. From Midsommar and Hereditary I was expecting a horror or at least a thriller. This was just weird and yes, anxiety inducing. This film made me feel like I wanted to throw up my soul and left me uncomfortable the whole time.

[@ang.andzelika]

this movie reminded me of "ferdydurke" by witold gombrowicz! it's a grotesque book in which the main character also is tossed into all of these crazy scenarios, he has no control over. if u enjoyed the movie, i would really recommend reading it!

[@ameenabedrabbo4147]

I think I made myself even more horrified by the film by not having any popcorn or drink at all. Having my stomach ache and my knuckles squeeze in worry as I don't know how worse it will get adds to the experience of terror.

[@et3an861]

I agreee!! I smoked some good weed that had anxiety and hunger coursing through me. I fear the world the way beau does in the first act and I was losing it due to spot on accuracy.

[@LateCambrian]

This looks like if David Lynch directed the Coen Brothers A Serious Man....can't wait to see it.

[@MasDouc]

Honestly that is so completely accurate.

[@smegmatic308]

👏

[@fezerton]

Watched Inland Empire, a 3 hour film even more surreal than this, then watched Beau is Afraid the next day… if you’ve seen both of these films you understand the state of mind I must be in right now lol

[@smegmatic308]

Drink lots of water

[@sator_project]

Oh ya, I hated the 3 hour runtime, but looking back I wouldn't cut a single agonizing second.

[@katherinehebert6523]

I had a full panic attack in the first twenty minutes lol

[@sousleciel2416]

I can't watch horror movies either way, but i was about to give this one a chance and your comment made me rethink that... Thank you ☺️ I'll have to wait for one of those ending explained videos

[@saulothebebop2581]

A friend say this movie yesterday and when i asked him how it was he said: "Its like Lynch's Inland Empire but good".

[@TheRandomGuyBlogs]

At the end of the credits I was sitting there in silence just trying to take in the entire experience of what I just watched, I was deep in thought and just as I was about to get up and leave the theater some random guy that I didn’t even notice was in there with me leaned over several seats and just said “Well, I guess we’re the weirdest people on earth tonight eh bud, anyway, I have no idea how I’m going to explain this film to anybody who asks me about it so…we should probably work on that together.” And then I just busted out laughing.

[@bobhamster3235]

Wat happened in the ending

[@nopeISdope96]

This movie made me appreciate living in this era of films, because a film like this is out in theaters rn. It’s so weird unique interesting, God, the whole apartment part of the movie was nuts. Unfortunately, I left about 2 hours into the film. I too was getting exhausted, but I partially blame that on things outside of the film. I need to go back to the movies, and try and sneak in to catch the last hour of the movie. Tbh, I snuck into the last like 30 mins of a screening a couple weeks ago. That’s what really peaked my interest in the first place. I had seen the poster, but didn’t realize it was an Ari Aster film. Anyway, I’m looking forward to seeing how everything wraps up. 👍

[@dummythiccems]

My theater experience really let me down on this one... had some people get up and leave in the middle of the movie, mostly silence, with me being the only one laughing in many parts of it.

[@ThiccHungDaddy]

AMC 5pm showing? Describes my exact experience

[@tristenmoles7933]

I loved 80% of it. But.... The ending completely lost me.

[@MasDouc]

I loved the ending. Just full on lynch absurdity.

[@GareBare90]

Sounds like a Saturday Night to me! Can't wait!

[@Smallfrye]

For how long it is, I was legitimately enthralled the entire time. This is such a unique cinematic experience I gotta recommend it, but I kinda don't want to? Idk it's good

[@joeyrussell8404]

id be afraid too if I went through all that shit

[@cameronmulder2684]

you thought DANI was more fleshed out than BEAU?! Midsommar was a great movie but none of the characters were all that deep

[@maddiejung974]

That kid looks so damn CGI

[@gluechunk]

I got anxiety from how the trailer snippets were used over and over and over and over in this video

[@Hockey_00002]

Loved it. The ending was actually perfect lol.

[@kieranng1172]

A deep masterpiece about how depression eventually leads to guilt and finally suicide...a must watch for all mental health practitioners as we always assume we know (but we don't really know so much)

[@reservoirdude92]

This feels like it's gonna be the 'Under the Silver Lake' of this decade.

[@hongquiao]

My humble opinion is that this is a certified classic (though I agree it didn't need to be 3 hours) I LOVE that Ari Aster had the balls to do something different from his first two movies and I LOVE that A24 had the balls to support him rather than trying to make him do more of the same.

[@2007PontiacVibe]

my interpretation of this movie is that beau is a paranoid scizophrenic and the medicine his therapist gives him at the beginning was a stronger version of what he usually takes to treat it, but since he didn't take water with it it had no effect and the rest of the movie is beau being consumed by his own mind.

[@SaraStar7373]

the bait and switch right near the end before the Reveal (i hope this is tactful enough not to spoil but have people that watched it know) had me openly laughing in disbelief in the theatre omg

[@dallaswillbefamous]

just saw this tonight in imax and couldn’t agree with you more! i also couldn’t take nathan lane’s character seriously after mainly knowing him from mouse hunt.

[@stephengrigg5988]

I think that was by design. Im not sure exactly, but he seemed like beau's idea of the perfect cliche father, almost to a cartoonish degree. That's kinda the perfect guy to cast

[@dallaswillbefamous]

@@stephengrigg5988 oh absolutely!

[@Philosophical24]

Coming from the hereditary and midsommar director I’m going in expecting nothing short of disturbing 😅