After Hereditary, a haunting tale of a demonic cult, and Midsommar, a jaw-dropping daylight folk horror, one of the acclaimed horror cinema auteurs, Ari Aster, will soon be returning with his much-awaited horror comedy, Beau is Afraid.
The movie will see a theatrical release this week, and the vast group of Aster fans couldn’t be more excited to see what he has in store for them now. Billed as a surrealist horror, Beau is Afraid follows lead Joaquin Phoenix as the film’s titular character as he attempts to make the journey home after receiving news of his mother’s death.
In the process of acquiring his mission, he lands in a fantastical land that is speculated to be a figment of his imagination. As speculation about the plot continues, the first wave of critic reviews has added hope as well as swelled the excitement of Aster fans.
After around 20 reviews, the film’s Rotten Tomatoes score stands at 72%. Here are some of the verdicts:
Joaquin Phoenix delivers one of his career-best performances as a guilt-ridden man on an epic journey in @BeauisAfraidMov. @A24 https://t.co/e6aDl4oLNL
— TheWrap (@TheWrap) April 11, 2023
Joaquin Phoenix’s performance garnered immense praise and acclaim.
‘Beau Is Afraid’ Review: Joaquin Phoenix Grapples With Mother Issues in Ari Aster’s Bonkers Freudian Freakout https://t.co/AXzALdkXEb
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) April 11, 2023
Many were impressed by how the movie treats its primary theme.
I didn’t love BEAU IS AFRAID for a few reasons, but Joaquin Phoenix and Ari Aster make such an epic combo that you can never look away from the horrors on screen. The discourse around this one should be fun.
— Andrew J. Salazar (@AndrewJ626) April 11, 2023
Read my full review… https://t.co/yKDM7W5ro4
Despite not meeting expectations, Aster’s direction and Phoenix’s performance certainly made an impression.
Where to begin with “Beau is Afraid”? Ari Aster shoots for an F Cinemascore with his absurdist 3-hour odyssey about a neurotic Joaquin Phoenix visiting his mum. Tonally out-Jokers most attempts at mixing hilarity and dread. Anxious. Vulnerable. Brilliant: https://t.co/cXORaYbzpx
— Siddhant Adlakha (@SiddhantAdlakha) April 11, 2023
An entertaining and riveting storyline.
Here’s my review of BEAU IS AFRAID! Good movie! https://t.co/1kB6ojsWTw
— Chris Evangelista (@cevangelista413) April 11, 2023
Overall, it’s a ‘good movie’.
REVIEW: Ari Aster’s ‘Beau is Afraid’ is the best movie Charlie Kaufman never made. https://t.co/fJ5zmr82L2 pic.twitter.com/3vyRlr8TU2
— Inverse (@inversedotcom) April 11, 2023
It’s totally worth watching once the title of ‘best’ is conferred on it.
BEAU IS AFRAID: i’m still on paternity leave but i couldn’t pass over the chance to review the most deliriously unrepentant piece of jewish despair since A Serious Man.https://t.co/9FNLQRjG69 pic.twitter.com/xC0o8nip2E
— david ehrlich (@davidehrlich) April 11, 2023
Which way the Tomatometer swings as more tickets are sold remains to be seen, but you can forge your own opinion when Beau is Afraid hits theaters on April 14, 2023.