“Ari Aster’s (Hereditary, Midsommar) audacious third feature mixes unsettling tension, absurdist humor and crushing pathos to create a nightmarish modern world in which to trap its insecure main character. A stunning exploration of one man’s profound mother issues, Beau Is Afraid is yet another superb platform for Joaquin Phoenix as the sympathetic anchor for the story of a son on a metaphorical journey home. While this psychodrama satirizes our tendency to scapegoat our parents for our own failings, Aster is even more searing when he takes Beau’s trauma seriously, resulting in a film with meticulously executed tonal command and emotional nuance.” –Tim Grierson, Screen Daily
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