DeVaughn Taylor

It’s good to know Uncle Yorgos is human and hasn’t always been a cinematic demigod. This could have been a 5-7 minute short film, but at least the core concept/themes are recycled and improved upon in Alps. A couple Lanthimosisms pop up here, like his deployment of music and drawing out awkward tension just past the point where it’s palatable. However, mostly boring!

Yorgos’ filmography has followed such a smooth trajectory. Catching up on this one after seeing most his others, it’s interesting how this one makes so much sense (tone wise) in between Dogtooth and The Lobster. Grieving is a process that is so different from person to person, the premise doesn’t feel as outlandish as it’s presented. While I don’t mind this film not having a traditional plot structure, I do wish things were paced out better.

“You humans are insane! No other species abuses its own, nor enjoys doing it.” For context, I saw Bugonia first and was underwhelmed by how streamlined it felt in comparison to Yorgos’ filmography, lacking the black humor that makes his Lanthimosisms work. Which is exactly what this film has and why it does work.