A Different Man
A Different Man
Aspiring actor Edward (Sebastian Stan) undergoes a radical medical procedure to drastically transform his appearance. But his new dream face turns into a nightmare as he becomes obsessed with reclaiming what he lost.
Varun reviewedNovember 14, 2024
A very interesting movie that challenges you with deep questions on identity. It instantly reminded me of The Substance (2024) but I think this movie does a way better job exploring multiple themes. Do our desires really belong solely to us or are they inextricably shaped by society? Where does our self-worth come from? The meta narrative was handled really well. There’s a mix of different genres, I do think the satirical elements were pretty good right up until the end where I felt like the story got a bit silly and rushed but I don’t think it diminished the rest of the film. Edward’s arc for the first half of the film was really well developed, a very empathetic look on his life that validates all his feelings. And the second half of the film is a painful glimpse of his unrealised potential that could’ve been unlocked with an unrelenting confidence in himself but unfortunately the sin of envy is too strong to escape. There’s tons of lessons here on how we should treat ourselves and others. A situation like this could happen to anyone, and this movie reminds us to reflect on our actions and realise what’s really at stake when we give up control of our own impulses and dreams to society.