With a handful of weeks until Ari Aster's latest film, Beau is Afraid could be Aster's strangest movie yet. Ahead of its April 21 release date, the director held a surprise screening of his new film and despite its three-hour runtime, early reactions are praising the humor and insane story, as well as Phoenix's performance. Check out some of the responses below:

How Beau Is Afraid Compares To Aster's Previous Work

When the trailer for Beau is Afraid was released, excitement surrounding the movie began to grow, as its unique tone seemed to separate it from Aster's previous two features. The footage focused on the relationship between Beau and his mother, while also exploring the mystery of his father and the run-ins with different strangers en route to his home. Unlike Hereditary and Midsommar, the film appears more comical and dreamlike, especially in the shots featuring animation.

What happens as the film's story unfolds remains to be seen, and since Aster's work has dealt with issues of grief, it will be interesting to uncover the source of Beau's anxiety and how that relates to his experiences. Both Hereditary and Midsommar looked at the psyche of its main characters and saw how their mental states were affected over the course of each movie. Beau is Afraid can address similar ideas, but it does seem like his overall journey might be different.

If the early reactions to Beau is Afraid serve as any indication, Aster might have another hit on his hands. The director's past films featured memorable moments, some crazy in their own right, but his latest project appears to be his most distinct yet. Those eager to see it for themselves can be sure to check out Beau is Afraid in theaters soon.

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