Sometimes the most effective horror takes place against the prettiest backdrops. The more tranquil the surroundings, the more a film can pull the rug out from under us when everything suddenly takes a turn for the macabre. This is how an eerie horror story becomes much more – an experience. A fever dream.
Alex Garland, who has already demonstrated a knack for the spooky in his smart but also disturbing sci-fi works Ex Machina and Annihilation, probably thought something similar. With Men, however, he cooks a meaner soup: psychological horror mixed with drama and ever-increasing tensionwhich erupts in a way that resonates for quite some time.
In Men on Amazon Prime, Jessie Buckley is bizarrely haunted
Harper (Jessie Buckley) has made a cruel escape from her abusive relationship. Her husband is dead, and whether he took his own life remains a nagging question. Harper needs distance and hopes to find it in one picturesque, secluded village found in the countryside. Everything there really looks magical and the apple tree behind the holiday home invites you to dream.
The owner of the house, Geoffrey (Rory Kinnear), welcomes her with open arms and seems to have her best interests at heart. But the first tour through the idyllic nature outside the village takes your mind unpleasant turn. Suddenly she finds herself face to face with a stranger who rushes towards her, screaming.
Koch Films/Studiocanal
A scary encounter in Men
Later, the stark naked man appears in front of her window and tries to get into the house. As Harper deals with the other villagers in the face of this threat, it becomes apparent: They all look frighteningly similar to Geoffrey. It shouldn’t just be an attack either. With each interaction, Harper’s fear and disgust grow. And what starts out threatening eventually becomes life-threatening.
Men thrives on its vicious tension and images that feel like absolute madness
We all know the fear of being watched. As the only woman among dozens of images of the same man, Harper also represents a primal fear of being completely exposed. There is also a constant feeling of uneasiness in Men. Because all of the film’s frightening images boil down to one thing Atmosphere of the grotesque a picture of reality so distorted that it sends shivers down our spines.
Koch Films/Studiocanal
Rory Kinnear in Men
It’s the sickening knowledge that something isn’t quite right. That everything should be fine, but it isn’t. The embodiment of this tingly feeling is a brilliant Rory Kinnear, who lends his far too interested face to all the men in Harper’s new life. He plunges into it with frightening skill more scary roles than James McAvoy in Split and always forces us to ask the question: “What the hell have I gotten myself into?!”
Harper’s surroundings become increasingly intrusive and the tension builds, ever more horrifying, until it erupts explosively. With a finale that commits itself to madness and no longer holds back in the slightest. Horror turns into pure body horror, which leaves us completely distraught. For a film experience that is worth it.
Men’s experience is difficult to put into words and needs to be experienced for yourself. You can now do this with an Amazon Prime streaming subscription.
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