Ari Aster’s latest film, Eddington, is set to hit theaters on July 18, following a divisive premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. The modern western, produced by A24, takes audiences back to the turbulent summer of 2020, where a small-town sheriff and mayor clash over pandemic policies, igniting tensions that ripple through their community.
Joaquin Phoenix stars as the anti-mask sheriff of Eddington, New Mexico, while Pedro Pascal plays the town’s mayor, a staunch advocate for COVID-19 guidelines. Their ideological battle escalates into a full-blown standoff, with neighbors turning against each other. The film’s cast includes Emma Stone, Austin Butler, Luke Grimes, Deirdre O’Connell, and William Belleau, each representing different perspectives on the pandemic.
The Eddington trailer teases a gripping mix of political drama and psychological tension, with western visuals and explosive confrontations. “It’s very scary to participate in a movie that speaks to issues like this,” Pascal said during a Cannes press conference. He acknowledged the film’s unsettling themes, adding, “I felt like [Aster] wrote something that was all our worst fears as that lockdown experience was already a fracturing society.”
Aster, known for Hereditary and Midsommar, described his approach to the film as deeply personal. “I wrote this movie in a state of fear and anxiety. I wanted to try and pull back and show what it feels like to live in a world where nobody can agree on what is real anymore,” he explained. His signature unsettling storytelling is evident in the trailer, which features masked figures, chaotic protests, and a growing sense of paranoia.
The film’s reception at Cannes was polarizing, with critics either praising its boldness or questioning its approach. Variety’s Owen Gleiberman called it a “brazenly provocative Western thriller” that captures the “creeping unreality of what America’s become”. Others found its themes too raw, given the lingering effects of the pandemic.
Before its theatrical release, Eddington will open the Fantasia International Film Festival on July 16. Whether it sparks further debate or solidifies its place as a daring cinematic statement, Aster’s latest work is sure to leave audiences talking.
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
You may also like
-
‘True Detective’ Duo Reunite Matthew McConaughey and Nic Pizzolatto Will Tackle a Mike Hammer Adaptation
-
James Gunn and David Corenswet Talk Superman’s Trunks—and Why Everyone Knows He’s an Alien
-
‘Echo Valley’ Hits Apple TV+ Today A Twisted Tale of Loyalty and Secrets Starring Sydney Sweeney
-
Director Kevin Williamson Opens Up on the Fallout from Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega Leaving ‘Scream 7’
-
‘Titan: The OceanGate Disaster’ Netflix Documentary Tracks 10 Years of Warnings and Mistakes