New film. Men by Alex Garland
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 69% of 224 critics’ reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.6/10. The website’s consensus reads, « If its narrative and thematic reach sometimes exceeds its grasp, magnetic performances from a stellar cast help Men make the most of its horror provocations. »[18] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 65 out of 100, based on 55 critics, indicating « generally favorable reviews ».[19] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of « D+ » on an A+ to F scale, while PostTrak reported 52% of audience members gave it a positive score, with 30% saying they would definitely recommend it.[15]
Mark Kermode of The Observer gave the film 3/5 stars, calling it « a playfully twisted affair – not quite as profound as it seems to think, perhaps, but boasting enough squishy metaphorical slime to ensure that its musings upon textbook male characteristics are rarely dull, and sometimes deliciously disgusting. »[20] Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian also gave it 3/5 stars, calling it « an unsubtle and schematic but very well-acted Brit folk-horror pastiche ».[21] Christy Lemire of RogerEbert.com gave it 3/4 stars, calling it « a visceral experience » and adding: « it reinforces Garland’s singular prowess as a craftsman of indelible visuals and gripping mood. »[22] David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter wrote: « Riveting performances from Jessie Buckley and a truly chameleonic Rory Kinnear make this A24 conversation-starter an unconventional genre standout. »[23] Peter Travers of ABC News wrote: « With the male need to control women hitting a new flashpoint, Alex Garland’s urgent provocation stars the great Jessie Buckley as a widow threatened on all sides by toxic masculinity. Though Garland is stingy with answers, his implications are incendiary. »[24]
Kevin Maher of The Times gave it 2/5 stars, writing: « It culminates in a protracted, effects-filled birthing sequence that manages, after 90 minutes of man-hating, to be aggressively misogynistic. »[25] Clarisse Loughrey of The Independent also gave it 2/5 stars, writing: « It suggests that all a male filmmaker needs to do to earn his feminist credentials is to show us men doing bad things. »[26] K. Austin Collins of Rolling Stone wrote: « Too much is spent reiterating certain gore-ish thrills and slick political points that really don’t benefit from the added scrutiny encouraged by repetition; even the grand, ecstatic, pathetic feat of the movie’s climax fizzles rather than simmers. »[27] Armond White of National Review wrote: « Despite its hallucinatory finale, Men is not really an examination of spousal guilt or women’s fearful psychology… Plus, it’s too absurd to substantiate the media’s fascination with ‘toxic masculinity.' »[28]
