MEN

UK, 2022, 100 minutes, Colour.

Jessie Buckley, Rafe Kinnear, Paapa Essiedu, Gayle Rankin.

Directed by Alex Garland.

Writer-director Alex Garland (Ex Machina, Annihilation) would probably not be surprised or upset to read such words as “enigmatic” or “weird” in connection with this film. It would seem that he has intended it to be enigmatic and weird.

The enigmatic is in the theme. The weird is in the treatment. And there is always the question as to why he entitled the film “Men”, making us look closely at the men male characters and their attitudes and behaviour, although the central character is Harper, woman.

Nor would the writer-director be surprised when reviewers express cautions as to how audiences might respond, how audiences might be too puzzled, confused, and not want to continue. Or, walk out. It is that kind of film.

It begins conventionally enough, focusing on Harper, played by Jessie Buckley was made such an impression in recent years (Wild Rose, Judy, The Lost Daughter, the American television series, Fargo). At her window, she sees a man falling to his death. We then learn that it is her husband from whom she is being divorced. This episode pervades the film and her memories and conscience.

Wanting to break free, Harper rents a 500-year-old house in the Gloucestershire countryside, delighted with the house, the countryside, and phoning her friend, Riley, constantly. What could go wrong?

Well, almost everything! And the narrative moves into some of the conventions of terror and horror.

And the men? Except for the husband, James (Paapa Essideu) and a strange young man in the village, all the male characters are played by Rafe Kinnear. This is certainly a virtuoso screen presence. He plays the landlord of the mansion, the touch of the dithery. He is also the local policeman as well as the man behind the bar at the local pub and several of those sitting drinking. When Harper goes into the church, her flashbacks tormenting her and she screams, Kinnear appears as the local vicar, offering some sympathy but turning the situation back on herself, making her blame herself. He also appears as a naked man who seems to be stalking Harper, who appears frequently, but increasingly tormented, metal spikes emerging from his skin, and then a visual horror climax which has to be seen to be believed. Perhaps it does not have to be seen, and might be too much for some audiences. Weird is the appropriate word.

So, a review which indicates the enigmatic and weird of the film, the core of the plot and issues, and, hopefully, a sensible caution about the style of the horror touches.

1. The films of Alex Garland? Science, science fiction, touches of horror?
2. The title, generic, the male characters in the film, men in general, the fact of glory can hear playing the male parts? Conclusions to be drawn from these characters, from James, from the young man?
3. Harper’s story, the opening, in her flat, the man falling to his death, looking at her, her reaction? The gradual filling out the background, the flashbacks to her discussions with James, initial love, the tension, the discussion about divorce, his hitting her, her ousting him? The fact of his going upstairs, to get to her flat, falling, deliberate or not, impaled? And his later reappearance and condemning her?
4. Harper, the effect of the marriage, the divorce, booking the house in the country, meeting Jeffrey, the tour, settling in, the walk in the countryside, the enigmatic figure, a sense of fear, the rain, return to the house?
5. The naked man, his appearance, Harper’s reaction, fear, his coming to the house? Calling the police, her descriptions? His later reappearance is, the metal coming from his body, spikes, suffering, overtaken by the metal? The finale, his giving birth, continually giving birth, the horror effect? Visuals?
6. Jeffrey, the landlord, fussy, friendly, his visits, reassuring Harper, the pub? The end, coming to resolve the situation?
7. Harper going to the church, her screen, her memories, the encounter with the vicar, his initial sympathy, the discussions, his gentle tone, turning the tables on her, getting her to accept the blame? Her fleeing him? The later encounter, stabbing him, killing him?
8. The policeman, doing his duty, but appearing later, in the pub, at the house, vanishing?
9. The men in the pub, at the bar, the customers? All played by Rory Kinnear?
10. The young man, associated with a church, wanting to play hide and Seek, his verbal attack on Harper? His later reappearance?
11. Harper, nightmare, how much in reality, how much in her mind, her conscience? The continued phone calls to Riley, Riley arriving, reassuring Harper?
12. The audience sharing Harper’s experience? The sense of menace and stalking? The final horror? And the conclusions about Men?