"Beau is Afraid:” Ari Aster’s Latest Tribute to Horror-Comedy

Joaquin Phoenix in Ari Aster's new film Beau is Afraid. Credit:Ari Aster

Ari Aster has finally released his third feature film, “Beau is Afraid.” The director, who also produced “Hereditary” (2018) and “Midsommar” (2019), has finally released his third feature film, which fits into a new genre. 

With a stunning score from Bobby Krilic and excellent acting performances from Joaquin Phoenix, Patty LuPone, Amy Ryan and more, the film itself becomes a desperate whirlwind of questions and answers that are up to the audience to decipher. Aster describes his new film as a “horror-comedy,” in which everything horrifying is fairly hilarious, and everything hilarious is borderline horrifying. 

The plot follows Beau (Joaquin Phoenix), an anxious man who is overly dependent on his neglectful mother and his journey home for her funeral after her tragic passing. With flashbacks intermingling within the scenes and the creative use of mediums (including a 20-minute scene with painted backdrops, rotoscope animation, felt modeling and more), “Beau is Afraid” leaves viewers lost in Beau’s mind. 

However, one thing is certain; the film is a stunning tribute to mental illness. Beau’s anxiety and worry create character flaws that the audience can see and can even, at times, relate to. His confusion regarding his own life is passed onto the viewers, making Beau a compelling main character who carries the three-hour-long plot with ease as he searches for his mother.

Phoenix and LuPone create a believable mother-son dynamic, developing their characters to the point that, at times, it is unclear which one is in the right and which one is in the wrong – one of Asters’ specialties. Although the plot itself is wholly unrealistic, the authenticity of the characters’ relationships rings true and gives the audience insight into a neglectful mother-son relationship from an insider perspective.

The visuals of Beau is Afraid are similarly stunning. The use of dolly shots, the rule of thirds and single-held shots provide the viewers with a sense of immersion, drawing them right in. There is never a dull moment with Aster’s cinematography, and with phenomenal performances from an all-star cast, the themes of guilt, horror and irony hit hard.