Eddington
Eddington
A standoff between a small-town sheriff (Joaquin Phoenix) and mayor (Pedro Pascal) sparks a powder keg as neighbor is pitted against neighbor in May of 2020 in Eddington, New Mexico.
Hipster ZOMBIE reviewed6d ago
A24’s Eddington might just be the most daring film of the year—if not the most divisive. Directed with a stubborn refusal to flinch from controversy, director Ari Aster’s movie tackles the Covid era head-on, diving into the messy, conflicting narratives of lockdowns, mask mandates, and the broader cultural battles that tore people apart. Where most films still dance around the pandemic, Eddington charges in, unafraid to question the logic of the lockdowns, the performative side of mask culture, and the way movements like Black Lives Matter that was co-opted by bad actors more interested in chaos than justice. Vilifying the police and praising a criminal martyr. It’s not a comfortable watch, but that’s the point.
The film’s greatest strength lies in its balance—refusing to paint one side as entirely right or wrong. It captures both the fear and desperation of those who clung to official narratives, as well as the frustration of those who saw the policies as overreach and manipulation. It’s rare to see a movie genuinely attempt to hold the middle ground while still calling out the absurdity of certain cultural flashpoints, and Eddington earns its points for that alone.
Joaquin Phoenix and Pedro Pascal deliver powerhouse performances. Phoenix, in particular, vanishes into his role as a weary small town sheriff spiraling under the weight of conflicting truths. Pascal is equally magnetic, playing a character who’s morally ambiguous, a man caught between duty and rebellion but ultimately playing the system. Their chemistry is electric, grounding a story that could’ve easily become preachy.
But then there’s that third act. Out of nowhere, Eddington shifts gears into what can only be described as an over-the-top, 80s-style action bloodbath. It’s jarring—buckets of blood, explosions, and brutal gun fights that feel like they wandered in from a different movie. While some will find it bold or darkly funny, others might see it as the film completely losing its mind. It’s a gamble that doesn’t entirely pay off, though it’s undeniably memorable.
The film closes with an eerie allegory of Joe Biden, as Phoenix’s character—once sharp and defiant—becomes physically broken and mentally dulled, a hollow shell of his former self. It’s unsettling, almost cruel, but also strangely effective as commentary on leadership, decline, and the cost of power.
Eddington is messy, controversial, and not always coherent, but it’s also one of the few films willing to take the full temperature of our current cultural hangover. A24 has released something that will be argued over for years—and for that alone, it’s worth seeing.