Beau Is Afraid (2023)

Beau Is Afraid

• Ari Aster has done it again. If you want an anxiety-filled, confusing, surreal movie, then this is just for you. Certain parts of it were kind of what I expected, but the majority of the movie was so unpredictable. There were several twists and turns, and lots of shocking moments and discoveries. I can easily say that this is probably the most unique movie I’ve ever seen. It’s just so…out there. In a good way. The story was absolutely awesome, with some humorous moments, as well as some truly shocking ones. I wouldn’t say this movie is necessarily scary, but I will say this: the first 30ish minutes absolutely terrified the crap out of me. I can’t really say why, it’s just something you need to see for yourself. The plot is both discernable and obscure at the same time, which was great. It moved at a decent pace, even if it felt a little long at times. The performances by everyone were so amazing, especially (and obviously) Joaquin Phoenix. He is truly an outstanding actor. And, in a way, he made this movie feel kind of like Joker, but only in a small way. There were some similarities in character/story, but that’s mostly just me. I don’t think I would’ve enjoyed this as much if Joaquin wasn’t in it, because he’s just the focal point of every single scene, both physically and emotionally. The animation sequence was also really cool, and a nice change-of-pace. It’s placed in the movie at the perfect time. Overall, this movie was crazy, full of tension and anxiety, and it leaves you guessing until the very end. It’s definitely worth the watch, and I’d recommend it to all horror/Aster movies. This film is officially Berry Approved, so go see it now!