Men (2022) spoiler free review
A24 brings another horror film to 2022. Written and directed by Alex Garland (28 Days Later) the folk horror film arrived to theaters on May 20, 2022. It’s scheduled to be released in the United Kingdom on June 1, 2022. It has received mostly positive reviews on the performance of the leads Jessie Buckley and Rory Kinnear but criticism on the story.
In the aftermath of a personal tragedy, Harper retreats alone to the beautiful English countryside, hoping to find a place to heal. However, someone or something from the surrounding woods appears to be stalking her. What begins as simmering dread soon becomes a fully formed nightmare, inhabited by her darkest memories and fears.
Official plot
The film was officially announced on January 6, 2021 with the filming ending on May 2021. It screened at the Cannes Film Festival in May 22 while being released in US theaters on the same month. On its opening week it ended fifth on the United States and Canada making $3.3 million.
My opinion
When a film tries too hard to be over complicated can be counterproductive. This is the main issue with Men. The leads Jessie Buckley and Rory Kinnear are able to compensate the mess that the story becomes. Buckley as a widow and Kinnear as numerous “men” that Buckley’s character Happer encounters are the only salvageable element of the film. Visually the film is appealing enough to help get through it. Men has similarities with The Night House (2021), which is considered one of the best horror movies of 2021, but only on one fraction of the plot with a very different execution.
While The Night House (2021) is able to create intrigue, tension, and engages emotionally with the audience Men (2022) will leave you disappointed and with too many questions. A debate has been happening in the internet since the film release about the ending. A bizarre scene to end this complicated film that is unable to explain itself leaving even more questions. Sadly, generally speaking, this is not a good A24 horror film.