Beau Is Afraid
Beau Is Afraid is a 2023 American surreal black comedy film written and directed by Ari Aster.[1] The film stars Joaquin Phoenix as Beau Wassermann, a mild-mannered but deeply anxious man who embarks on a bizarre, odyssey-like journey home after learning of his mother's sudden death, confronting his profound fears along the way.[2][3] The supporting cast includes Patti LuPone as Beau's domineering mother Mona, Nathan Lane as a kindly neighbor, Amy Ryan as a local woman, Parker Posey in a key role, and Stephen McKinley Henderson.[3] Ari Aster also co-produced the film through his company Square Peg, in association with A24, which handled distribution.[4] With a runtime of 179 minutes, Beau Is Afraid blends elements of comedy, drama, horror, and thriller, exploring themes of anxiety, guilt, and familial trauma in a Kafkaesque narrative style.[4][2] It premiered in theaters on April 21, 2023.[4] Critically, the film garnered mixed reception, achieving a 67% approval rating from 273 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, where it was lauded for Phoenix's committed performance and Aster's bold vision but critiqued for its excessive length and uneven pacing.[4] Audience scores were slightly higher at 71% from over 250 verified ratings, with many appreciating its inventive humor and emotional depth.[4] The movie marked Aster's third feature following Hereditary (2018) and Midsommar (2019), further establishing his reputation for psychologically intense storytelling.[1]Plot
Beau Is Afraid is divided into three acts, framed as a hero's journey. In the first act, the film opens with the traumatic birth of Beau Wassermann from his perspective. As an adult, the anxious and socially awkward Beau lives alone in a squalid apartment in the crime-ridden city of Corrina. He prepares for an annual visit to his overbearing mother, Mona, in Wasserton, but his plans are thwarted when his keys and valuables go missing. While retrieving a package, Beau learns from a delivery worker that Mona has died in a freak accident involving a falling chandelier. An intruder forces Beau out of his apartment, and he is struck by a truck driven by Roger and Grace, a seemingly kind couple. In the second act, Beau awakens in Roger and Grace's home, where they treat him like a surrogate son after the death of their own boy. Their daughter, Toni, resents Beau's presence and drugs him with a potent hallucinogen, leading to nightmarish visions. Beau flees into the woods, encountering a group of traveling performers whose play reenacts his life story, including childhood flashbacks involving his mother and a lost love, Elaine. He briefly connects with a mysterious figure claiming knowledge of his father before escaping further pursuit. In the third act, Beau arrives at Mona's sprawling estate after her funeral. Exploring the house, he reunites with Elaine, now a successful actress, leading to an intimate encounter. Mona, revealed to be alive, confronts Beau with recordings of his therapy sessions, berating him for his perceived inadequacies. The confrontation escalates into violence. The film concludes with Beau on trial in a surreal courtroom, facing judgment from Mona and her associates, resulting in his demise.[5][6]Cast
- Joaquin Phoenix as Beau Wassermann[7]
- Patti LuPone as Mona Wassermann[7]
- Nathan Lane as Roger[7]
- Amy Ryan as Grace[7]
- Parker Posey as Elaine[7]
- Stephen McKinley Henderson as Dr. Monroe[7]
- Kylie Rogers as Toni[7]
- Richard Kind as Dr. Cohen[7]
- Armen Nahapetian as Young Beau[7]
- Zoe Lister-Jones as Young Mona[7]
- Julia Solomon as Teenage Elaine[7]
- Hayley Squires as Penelope[7]
- Denis Ménochet as Jeeves[7]