Men (Movie Review)

As a director, you’re signing yourself up for something by naming your film Men. Alex Garland felt ready for the challenge after writing and directing the well-received sci-fi films Ex Machina and Annihilation. As a fan of both of those movies, I went into my screening cautiously optimistic. Unfortunately, Men disappointed me because it contributed nothing to the conversation about the misogyny and violence that women face daily around the world at the hands of men.

If we remove the topic of misogyny and the title, this film excels in a multitude of places. We're presented with beautiful visuals of the English countryside which starts off idyllic before shortly turning into a village of nightmares. The score is eerie, adding to my building sense of dread that no shot is safe from something stirring creepily in the background. And both Jesse Buckley and Rory Kinnear, who have the task of carrying the majority of the film, give great performances. Lastly, the ending of the film provides us with unforgettable body horror that I know fans will discuss for years to come.

While that’s all good, I can’t say I love this film. I’m not even sure I like it. Harper (Jesse Buckley) is presented to us as a widower dealing with trauma, hoping to heal in a place that many cottagecore lovers could only dream of staying in. At every turn, Harper is confronted with men who either act creepy toward her, belittle her, downplay her concerns, or flat out accuse her of being the cause of her husband’s tragic death. I can’t speak for all women, but I feel fairly confident in saying most of us have experienced at least one or more of the conversations that took place in this film. If it’s not being told you're overreacting or being dramatic, it’s being called a bitch because you aren't in the mood to hide and seek.

The issue with the film is that Alex Garland was heavy-handed in showing the misogyny women face. I mean, he chose to name the film Men. He signed up for a task to explain the toxicity of alpha males, but he brings nothing new to the conversation. The whole film feels like it’s trying to communicate “look how bad women have it” when these conversations have been happening for decades. It shows me that nothing can end this cycle of abusive men, especially with that iconic ending sequence. The toxicity continues to breed and it's as if there is nothing we can do to stop it. It’s communicating to me all men are the same. And Harper has no agency in the film. There was nothing she could do to have prevented this from happening, all because she put herself first. It felt like I was being shown the punishment of a woman who chose to prioritize her wants and needs. I don’t need to see that story in 2022 amidst the real-world horrors I face.

Had this film added something new to the table other than basic Feminism 101 and a different title, I might feel differently towards it. But as it stands, this is the film Alex Garland chose to make, and I can’t divorce myself from the fact it fell flat. I will appreciate that it will be very hard to misunderstand the film and come out blaming Harper or making excuses for the men’s actions in the film. I’d like to think no one could defend the men, but the cynic in me is actually questioning it now that I type it. It’s been a hard two years, what can I say.

In the end, Men is a film that will invoke a response from its viewers. It opens the floor for a multitude of conversations, some of that may be rather unpleasant. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed discussing it with folks that have both similar negative thoughts and incredibly positive thoughts. I recommend you see it because whether you love or hate it, you’ll find yourself unable to stop talking about it. And maybe that’s what Alex Garland wanted all along.