Alex Garland 's horror is always insidious, whether in Ex_Machina or Annihilation, the British filmmaker has specialized in elevated horror, a new genre of horror cinema popularized in the 2010s, where psychological manipulation and a creepy atmosphere take precedence over artificial jump scares. With Men, out in cinemas this Wednesday June 8, Alex Garland takes this concept a step further, offering a work as disturbing as it is powerful, on the influence of men's behavior towards women, especially when they are their victims.
Here, the victim is Harper, played by Jessie Buckley (I Just Want to Get It Over With, The Lost Daughter), who must come to terms with her husband's suicide, committed after she filed for divorce. Trapped in a deep sense of guilt, willed by her late husband, the young woman decides to isolate herself in a country house where strange things begin to happen, especially when other men approach her.
In the village where she takes refuge, Harper encounters only men, and none of them seem perfectly sane. Foolish, dangerous, or both, they provoke a deep unease in the widow. Even if the point is metaphorical, it's still clear: Harper may be a victim, but every man she meets wants to make her pay for her husband's death by making her look like a cruel woman.Not-all-men fans will bite their fingers off, as the film shows that there's nothing to save them, and that they keep repeating the same toxic behaviors.
All this is achieved through virtuoso, genuinely frightening direction. The masterful soundtrack is also at the service of the film's horrific atmosphere, which shines through in every scene, whether in the huge house where Harper lives or in the eerie forest that surrounds her, she doesn't seem safe anywhere. As usual, Alex Garland takes viewers on an emotional rollercoaster ride to a flamboyant conclusion. An undeniable success!
The trailer :
Average duration
1 h
40 min
