The movies that are so shocking and unsettling that they leave the audience thinking about them for a long time are always interesting. Typically packed with gore, body horror, and offputting imagery, these films are unforgettable for a reason. They force the viewer to think deeply about them to understand the narrative, as the endings are open to interpretation. Projects like The Lighthouse demonstrate that in recent years, this type of movie has only become more interesting as the visions of filmmakers can be more easily brought to life with exciting new techniques. 38x25

Warning: This post contains major spoilers for Beau is AfraidBeau is Afraid’s ending is one of the wildest and strangest finales of the year. Written and directed by Ari Aster, whose filmography has historically dealt with similar themes, Beau is Afraid follows the titular character (played by Joaquin Phoenix) on a journey towards awareness following the unexpected death of his mother Mona.

Joaquin Phoenix acted too intensely in Ari Aster's 2023 movie, so his co-star intervened to give him some advice. Widely considered one of the greatest actors working today, Phoenix is known for playing dark, enigmatic, and unconventional characters, often in period dramas. He was nominated for three Academy Awards for Gladiator, playing Johnny Cash in Walk the Line, and Paul Thomas Anderson's The Master before finally winning an Oscar for Joker in 2019.

Hereditary was a game-changing release. It came out in 2018, when distributor A24 was still newer to the scene. The movie then broke Lady Bird's under one-year-long record as the highest-grossing A24 film, bringing in $80.9 million worldwide. Even now, Hereditary is A24's 4th highest-grossing movie of all time. In addition to serving the studio, the movie also put director Ari Aster on the map. Aster would go from a relatively unknown short film director to a revered feature helmer overnight.

Since A24's foundation in 2012, the production company has produced and/or distributed over 150 films. Today, it's a crucial piece of the Hollywood ecosystem, bolstering careers and championing trendsetting directors to take risks with filmmaking. The studio has also made plenty of headlines with its successes. It is no mean feat to go so quickly from an up-and-coming company to being the force behind as many as seven Best Picture Oscar nominees in just over a dozen years.

Joaquin Phoenix leads theBeau is Afraidcast in one of the wildest roles of his career, but he is also backed by an outstanding cast that pulls him through his surreal story. Written and directed by Ari Aster, the filmmaker who brought audiences Hereditary and Midsommar, Beau is Afraid follows Beau Wasserman (Phoenix), an anxious, fearful man who has a complicated relationship with his mother Mona. After her death, Beau goes on a journey of self-discovery and realization as he attempts to get home in time for her funeral.

Bill Hader's Beau Is Afraid character left the comedian in tears. Beau Is Afraid is a film that delves deep into the chaotic, surreal journey of its titular character, Beau (Joaquin Phoenix), as he embarks on a harrowing odyssey to reach his mother's home for her funeral. The film, directed by visionary auteur Ari Aster, known for his work on Hereditary and Midsommar, explores themes of fear, identity, and the surreal in ways that both captivate and disturb the audience. Aster's unique blend of horror, surrealism, and dark comedy creates a cinematic experience that's as thought-provoking as it is unnerving.

While Ari Aster’s last movie, Beau Is Afraid, bombed at the box office, that has not stopped the visionary director from assembling one of the year's most exciting casts for his next project. Ari Aster has had mixed fortunes when it comes to critics and audiences. His 2011 short film The Strange Thing About the Johnsons became a viral success, but the psychological horror proved highly divisive. Aster's feature film debut, Hereditary, was a massive box office hit and a huge critical success, while its follow-up, Midsommar, was always as financially successful and just as acclaimed. Both are among Ari Aster's best movies.

Warning: Spoilers for Beau Is Afraid aheadBeau Is Afraid is a tough film to get a handle on, especially on first watch. It's not only that the story has left people puzzled (though it certainly has), but that the way it makes you feel can vary wildly, even within a single scene. Ari Aster's first two features, Hereditary and Midsommar, established him as one of today's foremost purveyors of cinematic dread. This latest project is no less 'dreadful' - some scenes, when taken alone, would feel right at home in a horror movie. But Beau Is Afraid also parodies the preoccupations of his previous work, leaving us with something that is undoubtedly a comedy, but doesn't always feel like one.

With three hours of wild sequences to create, VFX Supervisor Alexandre Lafortune reveals one Beau is Afraidscene took longer to make than the movie itself. The latest from Ari Aster centers on a mild-mannered, albeit endlessly paranoid, middle-aged man as he attempts to head home following his mother's death, only to become trapped in a surreal odyssey. Joaquin Phoenix leads the cast of Beau is Afraid, which has garnered generally positive reviews from critics and audiences alike, with most of the praise aimed at Aster's direction and Phoenix's performance.