MEN (2022)

“What is it that you want from me?”

MEN is writer/director Alex Garland’s third feature film, and it’s a lot! Fans of Ex Machina and Annihilation will recognize some familiar themes, including duality, grief, and a critique of gender roles. After a devastating loss, Harper (Jessie Buckley) retreats to a small town cottage, where her grief and guilt manifest in a unique manner. Cinematographer Rob Hardy is back to create some stunning visuals which, with the help of production designer Mark Digby and set decorator Michelle Day, lean heavily into a vibrant red/green aesthetic. I love how much yonic imagery makes up a lot of the visual composition, including the fantastic, suspenseful tunnel scene that sets the movie in motion. The final act takes a dive into some cosmic body horror; it is epic, gorey and high-key strange, and I can honestly say I’ve never seen anything like it.

A lot of the tension throughout this movie comes from watching our protagonist be watched. Harper mitigates her own risks as best she can — she stands her ground, she calls the police, she fights off her attacker, but ultimately the choice to pursue and attack her rests solely in the hands of the attacker. Buckley faces off against fellow actor Rory Kinnear who plays multiple archetypes and endured some physically taxing acts to deliver an incredible performance in the third act.
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