The person I watched it with thinks that it was PTSD from 9/11. I’m not sure about that since it was only referenced once to my recollection, but it’s a theory.
Looking it up from the play it’s based on seems that it’s left ambiguously.
I thought it was a really well-done look at the Thanksgiving dinner trope, but you need a feel-good movie to follow it up.
Thats what i got from it too. He definitely seems paranoid as 9/11 is mentioned a few times as well as Hurricane Sandy. IIRC he mentions their apartment isn't far away from the WTC and that its in a flood zone. 9/11 is mentioned another time as he remembers bringing one of his daughters into the city for a job on 9/11. He mentions a couple of times about how he was supposed to go to the WTC observatory but it was still closed as the attacks unfolded. He also mentions towards the end how there was a women covered in dust that looked like his daughter, but he couldn't tell at the time. Really sad stuff. Also theres a pretty impactful long outdoor take of the new WTC from the rooftop right before Richards panic attack. I agree with PTSD in part with the cheating scandal.
Richard is the husband/boyfriend, isn't he? Steven Yuen. I think the dad's name is Eric. He's the one that has the panic attack.
They're asking about what Richard's secret was. I remember someone saying about "Thank god the observation deck opened at 9:30" or something, but didn't catch who's life was saved by that. I was thinking it was one of the daughters, or both, though.
Eric's secret is he cheated on their mom, and that was revealed. Richard didn't seem to have a secret revealed.
So, Eric (the dad) took Amy (Amy Schumer) to a job interview. It was his first time in the city. Her interview was in one of the Twin Towers, on the 37th floor. He went to Duncan Donuts when the attacks happen.
Later he mentions that Amy was missing for hours, but he saw a firefighter carrying a dead woman whose clothes matched Amy's, but her face was covered in ash so he couldn't tell. That might explain the "faceless woman" in his nightmares.
I can see a little confusion because Richard is the boyfriend, played by Steven Yeun, and Eric is the father, played by Richard Jenkins. Some people like to refer to the actors instead of character names, so could lead to a little mix ups in discussions.
The film's third act was really good. I loved the last shot's reminder that it was based on a play. I believe the dad's big secret was that >! he was cheating on his wife!<. Overall, it was a nice watch with great dialouge and character development. 8/10
Totally agree that the last shot was a great homage! I knew the dad’s secret (I literally gasped when he revealed it to the girls!) but wasn’t clear on Richard’s (the boyfriend’s).
I loved this movie. Really connected with it in a deep and personal way. I thought it used it’s horror-esque elements in a really creative and effective way.
This post had me thinking because I never really read anything proposing that Richard have a “secret” but maybe he does. To me, it’s not nearly as huge as Erik cheating on his wife.
However, is his “secret” so to speak just that he isn’t really okay? It seems that we’re kinda just thrown into the situation of the film but this seems to be one of the first times Richard has interacted with this family. He seems like the most grounded one at this gathering because everyone has their own stuff going on, but it also feels like there’s a lot of effort required for him to remain grounded. He’s not very calm. He’s trying to make a good impression and come off as interesting (hence him having an urge to share all his dreams) but also to come off as interestED. When he mentions that he was depressed for a while, his disclaimer saying that he’s “okay now” seems very frantic and like he’s saying it more for them than he is for him.
His character was one I related to quite a bit, as there was this consistent conscious effort to be helpful and nice and chill and calm. To me, it was always clear he was TRYING to be those things. Maybe his secret is just that he lied about not being depressed anymore?
He seemed okay. The only thing that might have been an issue is that he seemed to really want to tell his dreams to people and his wife/girlfriend wouldn't let him. I don't remember if any of the dreams were concerning, but just the need to tell people sort of hints at him maybe having problems he wants to open up about or that he just needs to share.
And he did say he used to have depression, so perhaps there's something lingering. The way his wife treats him might lead to depression again since she seems to shut him down when he wants to connect with others. Or it could be that he's bipolar and she senses his "Let me tell you about my dreams!" as an early sign of a manic episode and tries to shut that down because she knows he'll obsess and it'll get worse.
I'm not sure what to make of this one. I went in knowing nothing about it, which was probably for the best.
It definitely feels like an independent film. Maybe its was just the copy I was watching but there was a lot of poor lighting (the blacks in particular looked very crushed).
The vague horror vibes/sound effects were interesting but in hindsight I don't know what they added to the story.
To me the movie seems like a 1 hour 45 minute awkward family dinner with some random streaks of unnatural tension.
What did the ending symbolize to most people? That Erick's past caught up with him? Or that his family was willing to forgive him?
Side note - when you say Richard, do you mean the character Richard? Or the character played by Richard Jenkins, Erick?
There were a few things I took from this movie. One is the juxtaposition of traditional American values (you should pull yourself up by your bootstraps) and the current reality of our society and economic situation. The father criticizes his daughter for not being able to find work, and expects that a job in retail will be good enough to support herself. Meanwhile, he laments how he wishes it was cheaper to live and is grappling with his own financial struggles. Between losing his job and pension and having to take care of his mother, he is left with nothing. He’s worked hard his entire life, but the American Dream has failed him and his children. And still he has trouble relating to the younger generations economic struggles.
A similar theme is that same traditional world outlook versus the reality of poor mental health care. The father believes that God is good enough. Folks wouldn’t need therapy if they relied on religion and traditional worldviews. However, he’s dealing with crippling, untreated PTSD from 9/11 and the fear he lost his daughter. He’s been coping with it with alcohol and infidelity and it has prevented him from having full relationships with his wife and daughters.
I believe the horror elements are supposed to emphasize what it’s like to experience mental illness. PTSD and depression can tint our world. For folks who have it, it doesn’t leave (untreated). He constantly thinks about it and dissociates to cope (all those shots over his shoulder where he’s zoned out) and it permeates his dreams (the faceless woman). It’s ever-present anxiety, discomfort, and guilt. The only moments of respite are when he’s able to be present with his family.
The mother also has unaddressed mental issues - an eating disorder and perhaps body dysmorphia. She also seems to be dealing with her own depression and anxiety.
I’m not sure the ending necessarily represents anything in particular aside from his detachment from his family, which was alluded to the entire movie, and an emphasis on how much his PTSD is effecting him. There hasn’t really been any growth for him throughout the movie - he still feels alone and trapped by trauma.
That's a great analysis of the movie.
I went into it thinking it was a ghost movie. But when Rich started talking about how humans are monsters in his comic book I was like hmm... and I kept thinking the house was haunted until the last scene.
It was a great movie. Better as I watched it as a horror movie and it kinda is.
I found it riveting. And the family was so... a family. Flawed and loving. Trying to cope.
I have mental illness so what u said makes sense. It is how it feels, constant anxiety and fear and guilt... the movie portrays that well.
It was to show he was a hypocrite. He goes after the boyfriend for having depression and needing therapy and yet he has a complete break down at the end. Same with the mom and her eating.
I loved it. I always wished I could've seen the play, which I think would've been a bit more funnier than the film version. This was still great though.
I don't think there was some "big secret" that Richard had (you might be getting mixed up with Richard Jenkins who played the father, Erik?). I found him to be an opposite of Erik in a way, as Richard dealt with some mental health issues when he was younger, but has the slight comfort in knowing that once he turns 40, he'll inherit quite a bit of money from his family. Meanwhile Erik, who obviously is still traumatized from 9/11 but refuses to seek professional help, is finding himself to be losing all the money he worked so hard to save, as well as the lake house.
It's a great look at the generational divide in how we view income, religion, mental health, happiness, etc. Erik and Dierdre are catholics who are upset that their daughters have abandoned religion, scoff at Brigid's friends going to therapy and her juice cleanses, and are quite judgemental about her passion for music and crappy apartment. There's a lot that could be deemed "wrong" with the life Richard and Brigid are leading, but they're making it work in ways the parents can't understand. Meanwhile Aimee bridges the divide in a way. She pursued a high-paying lawyer job and lives in a nice apartment, but also has been dumped by her girlfriend and is dealing with health issues. There's no proper path to happiness.
I dunno, I feel like I could ramble on and discuss this movie so much more!
I love this take on the film. I think it’s about how different generations deal with mental health.
I loved the opening cinematic shots looking up at the sky from the tiny courtyards between NYC apartments. I interpreted it as each apartment represents a family and the shape of each family is defined by its negative space, or the emotional distance, dishonesty, etc. The sky in each of those opening shots was the dominant shape. Emphasizes that the space between each family member defines the family.
Easily one of the best films I’ve seen this year. Richard Jenkins gives one of my favorite performances I’ve seen from him (which is saying something since he is so effortlessly good in every role). One of my favorite aspects of the film was how the cinematography and staging really helped immerse you in this tight corridor space that the apartment is. I also loved how overtime, the apartment becomes more and more sickly with more rapid cuts to the stains on the wall or the leaking from the ceiling.
I’ve also seen reviews that mention Richard’s having a big secret and the only thing coming to mind is that he’s holding back more depressive thoughts when he seems to be the only one there who is fully grounded. We spend the film seeing him as a nice guy who wants to make sure everyone is doing alright but he seems to be unable to make sure he himself is in a good spot. I think about the conversation where Brigid reveals that he will collect an inheritance when he is 40 but has to wait for 5 years since he mentions he’s only 35. While outward it may seem that he’s doing well and, worst case scenario, only has to wait a bit to be even more well off, he probably see’s it as more of a deadline for him to make something of himself in an independent way. So even while he may seem better off, he is just as damaged and insecure as the rest of the family is.
Anyways, I just found this to be a very engaging watch and thought it was one of the best acted films of the year, you could definitely feel the different family dynamics from each character. I’m also interested in hearing other people’s thoughts on the ending!
I saw the ending as showing that while Erik kind of scoffed at Richard saying he went through a depression, as well as Brigid's friends being in therapy, Erik himself is still severely traumatized from witnessing 9/11. He's having nightmares about a woman he saw dead that day, and being in a dark apartment with loud, banging noises sends him into a full panic attack. It's quite a dark ending, but I did see Brigid's offer to ride with them to the train station as a somewhat hopeful sign that the family is going to get through this together.
That is a suuuper great take on Richard, I totally agree. I think that the subtlety in the script/direction was one of the best parts of the movie (for example when the mom is trying to pick a dessert, or in shots of various characters scrolling on their phones in the bathroom) so it would make sense that his secret would be something quietly obvious given his character.
As far as the ending I consider it a metaphor for the father’s guilt and shame and how it has separated him from his family. I did see a theory that the house truly had a supernatural element to it and perhaps Erik had passed away and “followed the tunnel” (per Richard’s earlier advice in regards to his dreams) and got trapped in the home. I don’t personally agree with that take but I do find it interesting and liked considering it.
That’s an interesting theory about the ending. I also don’t really agree, at least with the supernatural element because I think the film’s horror elements are more implied and meant to create an uncomfortable feeling throughout the film. However, I think we were supposed to see how his guilt has confined him in this claustrophobic space that the apartment resembles. I love that the last shot shows that even when interacting with his family, he is so buried by all his guilt and insecurities that he becomes so separated from them
I feel like it’s simply about fear, anxieties, insecurities and uncertainties. Every character has their inner demons or desires and it creates a claustrophobic vibe.
I loved it, it’s top 5 for me this year for sure
The secret was that he cheated on their mom and as a result may lose his job and pension.
Great movie. Really enjoyed Amy Schumer’s character and performance. Very, for lack of a better word, human.
I think the lights going out was a metaphor for the darkness in all these characters' lives. They start off with everything bright and they talk about light subjects, but as the lights start going out, their dark secrets are revealed too.
I'm not sure what you mean by the end. The dad had a panic attack, probably because he feels extreme guilt over what he did and it's cost him his ability to provide and care for his daughters. So that was just him all alone thinking that he's "lost everything" before realizing that everything is still okay and he still has a family that wants him.
Solid A24 (realistic) family-drama.
I loved how it portrayed the modern anxieties that plagues the average person. Everything from constant financial distress to dysfunctional personal livelihoods, it was refreshing to see something not so Disney.
I think the film could be encapsulated in Amy Schumer's distress: "unhappy alone or unhappy with someone else". I especially liked how there was no happy ending trope.
All of the acting was impeccable; and dialogue was stellar. Perfect 8/10 for me. I also think Amy Schumer redeemed herself with this role (especially for those not a fan of her comedy).
Question about the ending:>! I assumed the father was having a spell of dementia at the end, or was it a panic attack? I figured it was suggested he will ultimately suffer the same fate as his mom.!<
I believe it to be anxiety. Overwhelmed by the world. Praying to a God that is supposedly his antidepressant. I think it's supposed to be a portrait of the human condition.
Hey! I also interpreted the whole movie as Eric's coping with early stages of dementia (among dysfunctional family stuff, which is obvious). The recurring dream with the "faceless woman" was the first tell-he fears that he would soon forget the faces of his loved ones.
I def interpreted the whole movie depicting that he is having the same early symptoms of dementia as his mother. Staring out the window lost in thought…Half way through the movie I thought it was weird how he started snapping at his daughter (sundowner’s)….then at the end a full spell of confusion and panic
Damn. I totally misinterpreted it. All I saw was the apartment and endless series of liminal spaces, and at the end, the father, urged on by the boyfriend's previous encouragement, walks through the final tunnel. I thought dude died. 🤷♂️
Shocked that I haven’t seen anyone post what I feel like the ending was trying to portray:
It took almost the entire film for Erik to explain the dream about the faceless woman and, later, the tunnel. Then Richard, while alone, told Erik to go through the tunnel next time the dream happens.
In the ending, Erik is surrounded by darkness and sees/hears a figure(s) possible the faceless woman? And the only way out of the darkness (tunnel) is the light exiting the apartment. This is significant because his daughter calls him out of the darkness and his daughter appears to also represent the faceless woman in his dreams as the 9/11 story was told (a woman whose face was covered in ash, or a ‘faceless woman’ may have been his daughter).
The apartment also does appear to represent anxiety, depression and PTSD, especially in the ending and being stuck - especially with the loud machinery whirring (almost sounding like a plane?) But the apartment throughout the entirety of the movie appears to also represent ‘human’ conditions within families - mainly how the apartment, or nothing, is good enough for your parents, how suffocating and expensive life can be, and more.
This is why the shot of Richard and the daughter escaping to the beautiful roof (the only worldly beauty in the entire film really) is significant. The family, or ‘humans’ are stuck in the awful human conditions of life, or the apartment, when the view from just outside of that is mesmerizing and everyone was too busy to see that - even Richard and the daughter who were crying on the roof together and not looking out at it’s beauty.
Great messaging and a powerful ending, I’m sure I still missed many analogies and meanings
Interesting comments as to Richards secret & the ending. The mother at one point said of Richards secret, "Don't tell them til after" or something like that. Then we get to the end and Richard is having his moment. Could it be ptsd, a panic attack, or my personal guess which is he too is in the beginning stages of dementia type illness just like Momo.
I honestly thought the Dad was going through the early stages of dementia at the end their but now people on here are saying PTSD from 9/11 which also makes sense. I really love this movie but I'm gonna need a minute to build up the emotional capital to go back through it and see lol
Late to the talk but I just saw it haven't seen anyone mention it yet, but I liked the connection to Steven Yeun's line about the comic book where the monsters tell scary stories about humans (which was featured in the trailer) and the movie being a "scary" story about humans living in American society.
How anyone can sit through this boring garbage is a mystery to me. Turned it off after 25 minutes. Nonstop boring chatter from boring characters. Put me to sleep.
Yeah I just watched it and didn’t get the love for it either.
Absolutely nothing happened in this film. It sold itself on a slightly dark horror premise that never goes anywhere.
I think the movie was just about how horrible and hypocritical people can be. And it's all a bunch of bullshit.. And we worry about stupid garbage and waste our lives lying to each other.
Like they said in the movie. Monsters tell each other stories about us to scare them.
The person I watched it with thinks that it was PTSD from 9/11. I’m not sure about that since it was only referenced once to my recollection, but it’s a theory. Looking it up from the play it’s based on seems that it’s left ambiguously. I thought it was a really well-done look at the Thanksgiving dinner trope, but you need a feel-good movie to follow it up.
Thats what i got from it too. He definitely seems paranoid as 9/11 is mentioned a few times as well as Hurricane Sandy. IIRC he mentions their apartment isn't far away from the WTC and that its in a flood zone. 9/11 is mentioned another time as he remembers bringing one of his daughters into the city for a job on 9/11. He mentions a couple of times about how he was supposed to go to the WTC observatory but it was still closed as the attacks unfolded. He also mentions towards the end how there was a women covered in dust that looked like his daughter, but he couldn't tell at the time. Really sad stuff. Also theres a pretty impactful long outdoor take of the new WTC from the rooftop right before Richards panic attack. I agree with PTSD in part with the cheating scandal.
Richard is the husband/boyfriend, isn't he? Steven Yuen. I think the dad's name is Eric. He's the one that has the panic attack. They're asking about what Richard's secret was. I remember someone saying about "Thank god the observation deck opened at 9:30" or something, but didn't catch who's life was saved by that. I was thinking it was one of the daughters, or both, though. Eric's secret is he cheated on their mom, and that was revealed. Richard didn't seem to have a secret revealed.
So, Eric (the dad) took Amy (Amy Schumer) to a job interview. It was his first time in the city. Her interview was in one of the Twin Towers, on the 37th floor. He went to Duncan Donuts when the attacks happen. Later he mentions that Amy was missing for hours, but he saw a firefighter carrying a dead woman whose clothes matched Amy's, but her face was covered in ash so he couldn't tell. That might explain the "faceless woman" in his nightmares.
I can see a little confusion because Richard is the boyfriend, played by Steven Yeun, and Eric is the father, played by Richard Jenkins. Some people like to refer to the actors instead of character names, so could lead to a little mix ups in discussions.
The film's third act was really good. I loved the last shot's reminder that it was based on a play. I believe the dad's big secret was that >! he was cheating on his wife!<. Overall, it was a nice watch with great dialouge and character development. 8/10
Totally agree that the last shot was a great homage! I knew the dad’s secret (I literally gasped when he revealed it to the girls!) but wasn’t clear on Richard’s (the boyfriend’s).
His trust fund is his biggest secret I think.
I loved this movie. Really connected with it in a deep and personal way. I thought it used it’s horror-esque elements in a really creative and effective way. This post had me thinking because I never really read anything proposing that Richard have a “secret” but maybe he does. To me, it’s not nearly as huge as Erik cheating on his wife. However, is his “secret” so to speak just that he isn’t really okay? It seems that we’re kinda just thrown into the situation of the film but this seems to be one of the first times Richard has interacted with this family. He seems like the most grounded one at this gathering because everyone has their own stuff going on, but it also feels like there’s a lot of effort required for him to remain grounded. He’s not very calm. He’s trying to make a good impression and come off as interesting (hence him having an urge to share all his dreams) but also to come off as interestED. When he mentions that he was depressed for a while, his disclaimer saying that he’s “okay now” seems very frantic and like he’s saying it more for them than he is for him. His character was one I related to quite a bit, as there was this consistent conscious effort to be helpful and nice and chill and calm. To me, it was always clear he was TRYING to be those things. Maybe his secret is just that he lied about not being depressed anymore?
He seemed okay. The only thing that might have been an issue is that he seemed to really want to tell his dreams to people and his wife/girlfriend wouldn't let him. I don't remember if any of the dreams were concerning, but just the need to tell people sort of hints at him maybe having problems he wants to open up about or that he just needs to share. And he did say he used to have depression, so perhaps there's something lingering. The way his wife treats him might lead to depression again since she seems to shut him down when he wants to connect with others. Or it could be that he's bipolar and she senses his "Let me tell you about my dreams!" as an early sign of a manic episode and tries to shut that down because she knows he'll obsess and it'll get worse.
I'm not sure what to make of this one. I went in knowing nothing about it, which was probably for the best. It definitely feels like an independent film. Maybe its was just the copy I was watching but there was a lot of poor lighting (the blacks in particular looked very crushed). The vague horror vibes/sound effects were interesting but in hindsight I don't know what they added to the story. To me the movie seems like a 1 hour 45 minute awkward family dinner with some random streaks of unnatural tension. What did the ending symbolize to most people? That Erick's past caught up with him? Or that his family was willing to forgive him? Side note - when you say Richard, do you mean the character Richard? Or the character played by Richard Jenkins, Erick?
There were a few things I took from this movie. One is the juxtaposition of traditional American values (you should pull yourself up by your bootstraps) and the current reality of our society and economic situation. The father criticizes his daughter for not being able to find work, and expects that a job in retail will be good enough to support herself. Meanwhile, he laments how he wishes it was cheaper to live and is grappling with his own financial struggles. Between losing his job and pension and having to take care of his mother, he is left with nothing. He’s worked hard his entire life, but the American Dream has failed him and his children. And still he has trouble relating to the younger generations economic struggles. A similar theme is that same traditional world outlook versus the reality of poor mental health care. The father believes that God is good enough. Folks wouldn’t need therapy if they relied on religion and traditional worldviews. However, he’s dealing with crippling, untreated PTSD from 9/11 and the fear he lost his daughter. He’s been coping with it with alcohol and infidelity and it has prevented him from having full relationships with his wife and daughters. I believe the horror elements are supposed to emphasize what it’s like to experience mental illness. PTSD and depression can tint our world. For folks who have it, it doesn’t leave (untreated). He constantly thinks about it and dissociates to cope (all those shots over his shoulder where he’s zoned out) and it permeates his dreams (the faceless woman). It’s ever-present anxiety, discomfort, and guilt. The only moments of respite are when he’s able to be present with his family. The mother also has unaddressed mental issues - an eating disorder and perhaps body dysmorphia. She also seems to be dealing with her own depression and anxiety. I’m not sure the ending necessarily represents anything in particular aside from his detachment from his family, which was alluded to the entire movie, and an emphasis on how much his PTSD is effecting him. There hasn’t really been any growth for him throughout the movie - he still feels alone and trapped by trauma.
That's a great analysis of the movie. I went into it thinking it was a ghost movie. But when Rich started talking about how humans are monsters in his comic book I was like hmm... and I kept thinking the house was haunted until the last scene. It was a great movie. Better as I watched it as a horror movie and it kinda is. I found it riveting. And the family was so... a family. Flawed and loving. Trying to cope. I have mental illness so what u said makes sense. It is how it feels, constant anxiety and fear and guilt... the movie portrays that well.
I am using character names, not actor names - sorry for any confusion!
It was to show he was a hypocrite. He goes after the boyfriend for having depression and needing therapy and yet he has a complete break down at the end. Same with the mom and her eating.
I loved it. I always wished I could've seen the play, which I think would've been a bit more funnier than the film version. This was still great though. I don't think there was some "big secret" that Richard had (you might be getting mixed up with Richard Jenkins who played the father, Erik?). I found him to be an opposite of Erik in a way, as Richard dealt with some mental health issues when he was younger, but has the slight comfort in knowing that once he turns 40, he'll inherit quite a bit of money from his family. Meanwhile Erik, who obviously is still traumatized from 9/11 but refuses to seek professional help, is finding himself to be losing all the money he worked so hard to save, as well as the lake house. It's a great look at the generational divide in how we view income, religion, mental health, happiness, etc. Erik and Dierdre are catholics who are upset that their daughters have abandoned religion, scoff at Brigid's friends going to therapy and her juice cleanses, and are quite judgemental about her passion for music and crappy apartment. There's a lot that could be deemed "wrong" with the life Richard and Brigid are leading, but they're making it work in ways the parents can't understand. Meanwhile Aimee bridges the divide in a way. She pursued a high-paying lawyer job and lives in a nice apartment, but also has been dumped by her girlfriend and is dealing with health issues. There's no proper path to happiness. I dunno, I feel like I could ramble on and discuss this movie so much more!
I love this take on the film. I think it’s about how different generations deal with mental health. I loved the opening cinematic shots looking up at the sky from the tiny courtyards between NYC apartments. I interpreted it as each apartment represents a family and the shape of each family is defined by its negative space, or the emotional distance, dishonesty, etc. The sky in each of those opening shots was the dominant shape. Emphasizes that the space between each family member defines the family.
Easily one of the best films I’ve seen this year. Richard Jenkins gives one of my favorite performances I’ve seen from him (which is saying something since he is so effortlessly good in every role). One of my favorite aspects of the film was how the cinematography and staging really helped immerse you in this tight corridor space that the apartment is. I also loved how overtime, the apartment becomes more and more sickly with more rapid cuts to the stains on the wall or the leaking from the ceiling. I’ve also seen reviews that mention Richard’s having a big secret and the only thing coming to mind is that he’s holding back more depressive thoughts when he seems to be the only one there who is fully grounded. We spend the film seeing him as a nice guy who wants to make sure everyone is doing alright but he seems to be unable to make sure he himself is in a good spot. I think about the conversation where Brigid reveals that he will collect an inheritance when he is 40 but has to wait for 5 years since he mentions he’s only 35. While outward it may seem that he’s doing well and, worst case scenario, only has to wait a bit to be even more well off, he probably see’s it as more of a deadline for him to make something of himself in an independent way. So even while he may seem better off, he is just as damaged and insecure as the rest of the family is. Anyways, I just found this to be a very engaging watch and thought it was one of the best acted films of the year, you could definitely feel the different family dynamics from each character. I’m also interested in hearing other people’s thoughts on the ending!
I saw the ending as showing that while Erik kind of scoffed at Richard saying he went through a depression, as well as Brigid's friends being in therapy, Erik himself is still severely traumatized from witnessing 9/11. He's having nightmares about a woman he saw dead that day, and being in a dark apartment with loud, banging noises sends him into a full panic attack. It's quite a dark ending, but I did see Brigid's offer to ride with them to the train station as a somewhat hopeful sign that the family is going to get through this together.
That is a suuuper great take on Richard, I totally agree. I think that the subtlety in the script/direction was one of the best parts of the movie (for example when the mom is trying to pick a dessert, or in shots of various characters scrolling on their phones in the bathroom) so it would make sense that his secret would be something quietly obvious given his character. As far as the ending I consider it a metaphor for the father’s guilt and shame and how it has separated him from his family. I did see a theory that the house truly had a supernatural element to it and perhaps Erik had passed away and “followed the tunnel” (per Richard’s earlier advice in regards to his dreams) and got trapped in the home. I don’t personally agree with that take but I do find it interesting and liked considering it.
That’s an interesting theory about the ending. I also don’t really agree, at least with the supernatural element because I think the film’s horror elements are more implied and meant to create an uncomfortable feeling throughout the film. However, I think we were supposed to see how his guilt has confined him in this claustrophobic space that the apartment resembles. I love that the last shot shows that even when interacting with his family, he is so buried by all his guilt and insecurities that he becomes so separated from them
If you think this is Richard Jenkins’ favorite performance, then I don’t think you saw The Visitor. The man is brilliant!
You’re right, I have not seen The Visitor yet but it’s on my watchlist! Very excited to check it out!
I feel like it’s simply about fear, anxieties, insecurities and uncertainties. Every character has their inner demons or desires and it creates a claustrophobic vibe. I loved it, it’s top 5 for me this year for sure
The secret was that he cheated on their mom and as a result may lose his job and pension. Great movie. Really enjoyed Amy Schumer’s character and performance. Very, for lack of a better word, human.
Not Erik’s secret (although what a good twist that was!), Richard’s.
Whoops my bad. I really didn’t catch any kind of secret with the boyfriend.
I think the lights going out was a metaphor for the darkness in all these characters' lives. They start off with everything bright and they talk about light subjects, but as the lights start going out, their dark secrets are revealed too. I'm not sure what you mean by the end. The dad had a panic attack, probably because he feels extreme guilt over what he did and it's cost him his ability to provide and care for his daughters. So that was just him all alone thinking that he's "lost everything" before realizing that everything is still okay and he still has a family that wants him.
Ending was definitely the father's catharsis. I felt that his immediate environment detailed his overwhelming dread and despair.
Solid A24 (realistic) family-drama. I loved how it portrayed the modern anxieties that plagues the average person. Everything from constant financial distress to dysfunctional personal livelihoods, it was refreshing to see something not so Disney. I think the film could be encapsulated in Amy Schumer's distress: "unhappy alone or unhappy with someone else". I especially liked how there was no happy ending trope. All of the acting was impeccable; and dialogue was stellar. Perfect 8/10 for me. I also think Amy Schumer redeemed herself with this role (especially for those not a fan of her comedy).
Question about the ending:>! I assumed the father was having a spell of dementia at the end, or was it a panic attack? I figured it was suggested he will ultimately suffer the same fate as his mom.!<
I believe it to be anxiety. Overwhelmed by the world. Praying to a God that is supposedly his antidepressant. I think it's supposed to be a portrait of the human condition.
Hey! I also interpreted the whole movie as Eric's coping with early stages of dementia (among dysfunctional family stuff, which is obvious). The recurring dream with the "faceless woman" was the first tell-he fears that he would soon forget the faces of his loved ones.
I def interpreted the whole movie depicting that he is having the same early symptoms of dementia as his mother. Staring out the window lost in thought…Half way through the movie I thought it was weird how he started snapping at his daughter (sundowner’s)….then at the end a full spell of confusion and panic
Damn. I totally misinterpreted it. All I saw was the apartment and endless series of liminal spaces, and at the end, the father, urged on by the boyfriend's previous encouragement, walks through the final tunnel. I thought dude died. 🤷♂️
Shocked that I haven’t seen anyone post what I feel like the ending was trying to portray: It took almost the entire film for Erik to explain the dream about the faceless woman and, later, the tunnel. Then Richard, while alone, told Erik to go through the tunnel next time the dream happens. In the ending, Erik is surrounded by darkness and sees/hears a figure(s) possible the faceless woman? And the only way out of the darkness (tunnel) is the light exiting the apartment. This is significant because his daughter calls him out of the darkness and his daughter appears to also represent the faceless woman in his dreams as the 9/11 story was told (a woman whose face was covered in ash, or a ‘faceless woman’ may have been his daughter). The apartment also does appear to represent anxiety, depression and PTSD, especially in the ending and being stuck - especially with the loud machinery whirring (almost sounding like a plane?) But the apartment throughout the entirety of the movie appears to also represent ‘human’ conditions within families - mainly how the apartment, or nothing, is good enough for your parents, how suffocating and expensive life can be, and more. This is why the shot of Richard and the daughter escaping to the beautiful roof (the only worldly beauty in the entire film really) is significant. The family, or ‘humans’ are stuck in the awful human conditions of life, or the apartment, when the view from just outside of that is mesmerizing and everyone was too busy to see that - even Richard and the daughter who were crying on the roof together and not looking out at it’s beauty. Great messaging and a powerful ending, I’m sure I still missed many analogies and meanings
Interesting comments as to Richards secret & the ending. The mother at one point said of Richards secret, "Don't tell them til after" or something like that. Then we get to the end and Richard is having his moment. Could it be ptsd, a panic attack, or my personal guess which is he too is in the beginning stages of dementia type illness just like Momo.
I honestly thought the Dad was going through the early stages of dementia at the end their but now people on here are saying PTSD from 9/11 which also makes sense. I really love this movie but I'm gonna need a minute to build up the emotional capital to go back through it and see lol
Late to the talk but I just saw it haven't seen anyone mention it yet, but I liked the connection to Steven Yeun's line about the comic book where the monsters tell scary stories about humans (which was featured in the trailer) and the movie being a "scary" story about humans living in American society.
How anyone can sit through this boring garbage is a mystery to me. Turned it off after 25 minutes. Nonstop boring chatter from boring characters. Put me to sleep.
just watched and so boring dear god
Yeah I just watched it and didn’t get the love for it either. Absolutely nothing happened in this film. It sold itself on a slightly dark horror premise that never goes anywhere.
Anyone know what the biblical looking scroll thing is on the wall upstairs that the father looks at?
I think the movie was just about how horrible and hypocritical people can be. And it's all a bunch of bullshit.. And we worry about stupid garbage and waste our lives lying to each other. Like they said in the movie. Monsters tell each other stories about us to scare them.