Horror Film "Men": A Female Protagonist Faces Multiple Intimidating Male Characters
In the gripping new film "Men," directed by Alex Garland, audiences are introduced to Harper (played by Jessie Buckley), a Londoner seeking peace after the tragic death of her husband, James. In an attempt to escape her traumatic past, Harper retreats to the picturesque English countryside, only to find herself entangled in a series of disturbing encounters with the village's male inhabitants.
The film's main theme revolves around trauma, misogyny, and the oppressive nature of male violence and guilt. The narrative delves into Harper's psychological aftermath, as she confronts not only her grief but also the pervasive and haunting presence of toxic masculinity embodied by the men she encounters.
Rory Kinnear, in a remarkable performance, plays almost all the men in the village, with almost a dozen different characters sometimes appearing in one scene. His most prominent role is that of Geoffrey, the groundskeeper, who embodies the menacing and unsettling aspects of the local men.
Upon arriving at her holiday cottage, owned by the landlord Geoffrey, Harper encounters a naked, scarred man who chases her and stands naked in front of her cottage window. Despite Geoffrey's somewhat sleazy and eerie demeanor, Harper manages to handle him, as he does not seem to have any ill intentions.
However, Harper's stay quickly turns into a nightmare, as she encounters further disturbing interactions with the locals. A police officer informs her in a hostile tone that her naked stalker was released shortly after his arrest. A misogynistic teenage boy insults her in front of the church, and a priest, who worms his way into Harper's trust, blames her for James' death instead of offering comfort.
As the film progresses, terrible things happen in the cottage the night before Riley, Harper's friend, arrives. Harper calls the police when the man tries to get into her cottage, and the police take the wild exhibitionist away in their patrol car.
"Men" premieres on the Second channel on July 7 at 10:15 PM, and will be available on ZDF streaming portal starting July 6 at 10:00 AM. The film's surreal horror and psychological symbolism serve to probe deep issues of gender and trauma, making it a thought-provoking and unsettling watch.
[1] Men (2022 film) - Wikipedia [2] Men film review – Jessie Buckley's haunting journey through toxic masculinity | The Guardian [3] Men (2022) - IMDb
- The film "Men" by Alex Garland spotlights various aspects of lifestyle, with a focus on the themes of fashion-and-beauty, love-and-dating, and relationships, but also delves into more profound matters such as family-dynamics, home-and-garden, and movies-and-tv within the entertainment industry.
- The narrative charting Harper's turbulent encounters with the men of a rural village serves as a poignant exploration of the traumatic impact of misogyny and male violence, casting a spotlight on the pervasiveness of these issues within family-dynamics.
- The film's main character, Harper, finds herself enduring a series of distressing interactions with the village's men, which serve as a symbol of the oppressive nature of their presence and the guilt that often accompanies such behaviors.
- The intricate web of relationships portrayed in "Men" reveals the subtle yet damaging effects of toxic masculinity on the lives and well-being of women, as witnessed through Harper's struggles and eventual attempts to find peace in a world dominated by such unhealthy dynamics.
