Movies: Beautiful Friend (2023) by Truman Kewley: A Glimpse into the Mind of a Sociopath

A Disturbing Psychological Thriller A Cautionary Tale of Isolation and Desperation Beautiful Friend is a 2023 American psychological thriller directed and written by Truman Kewley. The film is an unflinching and difficult look into the mind of Daniel, a mentally unstable and socially isolated young man who, during the COVID-19 pandemic, spirals out of control in his desperate search for a romantic relationship. His determination to find a woman who will stay with him leads him to commit disturbing acts, blurring the lines between a desire for connection and violent obsession. The film stars Adam Jones as Daniel and Alexandrea Meyer as his victim. It has won 2 awards and received 1 nomination for its raw portrayal of a troubling modern phenomenon.

Why to recommend this movie: A Raw and Unsettling Experience The Psychological Depths of a Troubled Mind

• A timely and controversial topic: The film addresses the rise of incel (involuntary celibate) culture, a disturbing real-world phenomenon. By providing an "unflinching" look into a character who embodies this mentality, the film serves as a relevant and unsettling social commentary on the dangers of isolation, misogyny, and entitlement.

• A unique narrative perspective: The film is told largely from the point of view of the protagonist, Daniel. His constant inner monologue, which a reviewer found "monotone" but others found "truly fascinating," offers a disturbing glimpse into the mind of a sociopath. This narrative choice, while unconventional, immerses the viewer in his warped reality.

• A hauntingly realistic portrayal: Unlike many horror or thriller films, Beautiful Friend does not rely on traditional tropes. Instead, it creates a sense of dread through its raw, realistic portrayal of a kidnapping. The film's brutal honesty is difficult to watch but, as one reviewer noted, it "provokes such a strong reaction" that its message is hard to ignore.

Where to watch: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/beautiful-friend (US), https://www.justwatch.com/au/movie/beautiful-friend (Australia), https://www.justwatch.com/ca/movie/beautiful-friend (Canada), https://www.justwatch.com/uk/movie/beautiful-friend (UK)

Link IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt28797986/

Link Review: https://thematthewrome.com/2024/12/08/beautiful-friend-by-truman-kewley-entering-the-mind-of-an-incel/

What is the Trend followed: The "Found Footage" Psychological Thriller Raw and Unfiltered Horror The film follows the trend of the psychological thriller, but with a style reminiscent of the found-footage genre, a format known for its raw and unfiltered nature. This genre often uses a minimalist approach to create a sense of realism and unease. By focusing on the internal monologue and the protagonist's perspective, the film creates a disturbing "first-person" experience that feels voyeuristic and unsettling, placing the audience directly inside the mind of a troubled individual.

Director's Vision: The Banality of Evil A Disquieting Look at a Troubled Psyche

• Unflinching honesty: Director Truman Kewley’s vision was to create a film that was "unflinchingly raw" and disturbingly honest. He wanted to avoid sensationalizing the story and instead present a stark, unembellished look at a character driven by a toxic ideology.

• The pandemic as a catalyst: The film uses the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic to heighten the protagonist's sense of social isolation. Kewley uses this setting to explore how a pre-existing mental instability can be exacerbated by societal conditions, pushing a character to a breaking point.

Themes: Isolation, Entitlement, and Control The Dark Side of the Human Condition

• The dangers of incel culture: A central theme is the exploration of the incel ideology. The film exposes the protagonist's warped sense of entitlement and his belief that he is "owed" a woman, which he uses to justify his heinous actions. This serves as a cautionary tale about how online discourse can lead to real-world violence.

• The quest for a "perfect" friend: The film's title, Beautiful Friend, is a tragic and ironic one. The protagonist's desperate search for a woman who will "stay with him" is rooted in a fundamental misunderstanding of relationships. He views the women he meets not as people, but as objects to be possessed, which makes his actions all the more chilling.

• Survival and adaptation: The film also explores the victim's perspective and her "desperate lengths" to survive. Her journey from victim to a person fighting for her life is a powerful counterpoint to Daniel's descent into madness.

Key success factors: Raw Performances and a Relevant Topic A Chilling and Thought-Provoking Film

• A brave and unsettling script: The film's greatest strength is its willingness to tackle a difficult and often-misunderstood topic. The unflinching look into the mind of the protagonist makes the film a provocative and important piece of cinema.

• A gripping performance from the lead: Adam Jones' portrayal of Daniel is both chilling and compelling. He masterfully conveys the character's internal turmoil and disturbing worldview, making the audience uncomfortable but unable to look away.

• A sense of realism: The film’s raw, almost amateurish aesthetic, as noted by some critics, actually works in its favor. It adds to the film's sense of realism and makes the events feel more plausible and disturbing.

Awards and Nominations: A Festival Acclaim Beautiful Friend has won 2 awards and received 1 nomination at various film festivals. These accolades recognize the film's raw, uncompromising vision and its ability to provoke a strong reaction from its audience.

Critics Reception: A Divisive But Powerful Film An Uncomfortable and Necessary Watch

• Nerdly: This review calls the film an "incel-horror" that is a "difficult watch." The critic notes that while the film is "not for the faint-hearted," it is a compelling and timely thriller that is "genuinely disturbing."

• Film Fugitives: This review praises the film for its "unflinchingly raw" portrayal of a disturbed mind. The critic found the film to be an "uncomfortable" and "disturbing dive into the human psyche," but ultimately a powerful and thought-provoking experience.

• IMDb Critics: The film has a very mixed reception, with some critics praising its unique approach, while others found its slow pace and subject matter to be off-putting. The film holds a very low IMDb rating of 3.9 from users, reflecting its divisive nature.

Overall, critics are divided on the film's success. While many commend its bravery and uncompromising vision, others found it to be too slow, too dark, and too "whiney" for their taste.

Reviews: Not for Everyone A Polarizing but Unforgettable Experience

• joecureton (IMDb): This user review praises the film as "truly fascinating" and "really simple & very interesting." The reviewer found the film to be an excellent exploration of the incel mindset and believed that the camera work and cinematography were "unusual but brilliant."

• readwritereadwrite (IMDb): This user review is highly critical, calling the film "so whiney" and stating that the protagonist's monologues are "pedestrian" and "boring." The reviewer felt no empathy for the character and found the film unwatchable.

• henryarres (IMDb): This user review calls the film a "masterpiece," praising its "unflinchingly raw" and "disturbing" portrayal of a kidnapping. The reviewer felt disgusted while watching but believed that the film's "brutal honesty" was its greatest strength.

Overall, user reviews are extremely polarizing, with a very low average rating of 3.9 out of 10. While some viewers were captivated by the film's raw honesty and psychological depth, many others were repelled by the subject matter and found the film to be slow, boring, and emotionally draining.

Movie Trend: The Psychosexual Thriller The Dark Side of Human Desire The film follows the trend of the psychosexual thriller, which explores the dark and twisted side of human sexuality and desire. This genre often delves into themes of obsession, control, and violence, using a character's disturbed psychological state as the primary source of tension. Beautiful Friend fits this trend by focusing on a protagonist's twisted and violent quest for a romantic relationship, blurring the lines between love and coercion.

Social Trend: The Dangers of Online Echo Chambers and Incels A Real-World Horror The film is highly relevant to the social trend of the rise of online echo chambers and the proliferation of incel culture. It serves as a stark and unsettling reminder of how a person's digital life can shape their real-world actions. By portraying a protagonist who embodies the misogynistic and entitled ideology of the incel community, the film highlights the real-world dangers of online radicalization.

Final Verdict: A Disturbing and Polarizing Experience Beautiful Friend is a dark, disturbing, and polarizing film that will likely not appeal to a mainstream audience. However, for those who are willing to brave its raw, uncompromising vision, it is a powerful and unsettling psychological thriller that serves as a timely warning about the dangers of isolation, entitlement, and the incel mindset. It is a bold film that is difficult to watch but, for some, its brutal honesty makes it an unforgettable experience.