‘Men’: Why Horror Fans Cannot Miss Alex Garland’s New Movie
Moviegoers are still reeling from the first horror movie to come out of the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. But another upcoming release promises to deliver a far more visceral experience for fans looking for some scares. Here’s why horror fanatics need to check out writer-director Alex Garland’s latest release, simply titled Men.
‘Men’ director Alex Garland has an incredible track record
Garland first gained fame as a novelist. His book, The Beach, is the basis for director Danny Boyle’s 2000 film starring Leonardo DiCaprio. But he’s been steadily gaining steam in Hollywood ever since. Garland is the screenwriter of films such as 28 Days Later and Sunshine – both directed by Boyle – as well as 2012’s underrated sci-fi action-thriller Dredd.
And in 2014, Garland made his feature directorial debut with Ex Machina. The sci-fi film earned rave reviews for its performances, particularly that of Alicia Vikander, and even won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects. It also established Garland’s knack for shocking viewers. Likewise, 2018’s Annihilation gained universal praise, despite being a box office flop.
Oscar-nominated actor Jessie Buckley is a star on the rise
Garland’s previous two movies melded thriller and horror elements with science fiction. But Men looks like it will much more directly offer a terrifying experience to moviegoers. And as fans know, a good horror movie is only as good as its leading lady. In that case, Men is off to a solid start already. Garland’s movie stars recent Oscar nominee (The Lost Daughter) Jessie Buckley.
Buckley stars as Harper Marlowe, a young woman who vacations in the English countryside after her husband’s death. And Men could be the rising star’s next step into mainstream stardom. For years, Buckley has delivered standout roles on the stage, in television, and in movies such as Wild Rose, Judy, The Courier, and the Netflix hit I’m Thinking of Ending Things.
‘Men’ is sure to stir up some serious discussion among viewers
If the involvement of Garland, Buckley, and Rory Kinnear – who plays nearly every male character in Men – isn’t enough to entice fans to see the movie, perhaps the conversation surrounding the film is. Ahead of its release, Men has earned an 82 percent Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. And many of those reviews acknowledge the film’s ambitious themes.
In the wake of social movements like Time’s Up and #MeToo, many filmmakers are taking toxic masculinity on directly. Films such as Last Night in Soho and Promising Young Woman attracted attention for telling stories of women who were victimized by men. The surreal trailer for Men doesn’t make it perfectly clear where the story goes, but Garland certainly has something to say.
Men hits theaters everywhere on May 20, 2022.
