In the fictional desert town of Eddington, the pandemic has changed everything. Pedro Pascal, Joaquin Phoenix and Emma Stone star in this tense satire, now streaming on HBO Max after a staggered international cinematic release in recent months. London (dpa) – Known for shocking audiences with horror hits such as "Hereditary" and "Midsommar", and leaving viewers perplexed with his surreal epic "Beau Is Afraid", filmmaker Ari Aster returns with his latest unsettling creation, "Eddington". The film, a chaotic mix of satire, political drama and thriller, stars Joaquin Phoenix and Pedro Pascal as political rivals whose feud spirals out of control during the COVID-19 pandemic. Set in the fictional small town of Eddington, New Mexico, the story follows Joe Cross (Joaquin Phoenix), a plainspoken, unpolished sheriff whose wife Louise (Emma Stone) struggles with mental health issues. Adding to his woes, Joe’s mother-in-law Dawn (Deirdre O’Connell), a lockdown conspiracy theorist, has moved in with the couple, much to his frustration. The town’s charismatic mayor, Ted Garcia (Pedro Pascal), is a single father and a self-aggrandising showman who once had a brief affair with Joe’s wife. Garcia’s plan to build a massive data centre on the outskirts of Eddington, meant to revitalize the local economy, is met with fierce opposition due to its high water and electricity consumption. The tension between the two men soon ignites a political and personal battle. Masks, protests and a town on the brink What begins as private animosity escalates into a full-blown political war. Garcia is a staunch advocate of mask mandates and other COVID-19 restrictions, while Joe, who suffers from asthma, is a vocal opponent. He views such measures as overreach by the government — and by Garcia personally — leading to heated public clashes. Joe decides to run against Garcia for mayor, centring his campaign on opposition to the mask mandate and the data centre project. Meanwhile, unrest brews in Eddington as teenagers organise Black Lives Matter protests, targeting the local police. Ironically, the town’s only Black resident is police officer Michael (Micheal Ward). Into this volatile mix arrives Vernon Peak (Austin Butler), an opportunistic cult leader who captivates Louise. Butler’s portrayal is both darkly entertaining and unnervingly realistic. As tensions boil over, the town descends into chaos, marked by riots and multiple murders. The investigations are hindered by jurisdictional issues and Joe’s unwillingness to work with the opposing side. The violence escalates, leaving Eddington teetering on the brink of collapse. A satirical lens on a divided society While most would rather leave the pandemic in the past, "Eddington" initially uses it as a sharp, satirical backdrop to explore a fractured society. The film opens with biting humour, showcasing a world where common sense has been replaced by perpetual outrage. In one standout scene, Joe is stopped by two out-of-town police officers and ordered to wear a mask while sitting alone in his car in the middle of the desert. Ari Aster spares no one in his depiction of a society in disarray, portraying overwhelmed law enforcement, self-righteous activists, and performative allies, including white teens tearfully apologising for their privilege. He avoids taking sides, presenting his characters as flawed and morally ambiguous. Eddington becomes a microcosm of modern America, poisoned by political hysteria, the influence of social media and personal grievances. It’s a society in freefall, where everyone believes they are right, and no one listens — a heightened reflection of contemporary reality. A story with no winners Joaquin Phoenix delivers another brilliant performance, fully embodying the complex, unlikeable Joe Cross. However, Pedro Pascal and Emma Stone are given less to work with, as their characters are somewhat lacking in depth. Austin Butler stands out as the chillingly magnetic Vernon Peak, while Micheal Ward brings subtlety to his role as the town’s conflicted police officer. Visually, "Eddington" is stunning, thanks to the elegant cinematography of Darius Khondji ("Panic Room", "Midnight in Paris"), which gives the film the atmosphere of a modern Western. But at nearly two and a half hours, the film feels overstuffed, with too many characters and subplots that lead nowhere. Themes like abuse are introduced but left unresolved, adding to the sense of narrative clutter. The film’s dramatic, brilliantly shot climax should be gripping, but by that point, many viewers may feel fatigued by the overwhelming number of unsympathetic characters. In this nightmarish tale, there are no heroes — just a town and its people spiralling toward destruction. Aster’s bold, if flawed, vision "Eddington" is a bold exploration of a society on the brink, blending dark humour and biting satire with moments of pure chaos. However, its sprawling narrative and unrelenting bleakness may leave some viewers frustrated. While not all of Aster’s risks pay off, his ability to craft unsettling, thought-provoking cinema remains undeniable. "Eddington" is now streaming on HBO Max, after getting a staggered international cinematic release in recent months. The following information is not intended for publication dpa pde xx a3 gth
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