‘The Surfer’ Review: Nicolas Cage Battles Surf Bros, Sun-Stroke & Paranoia in this Psychedelic Nightmare

There’s a beach in Western Australia where the sun scorches, the locals scowl, and the waves are guarded like state secrets. Into this hostile paradise strolls a man from another life, unnamed, though unmistakably Nicolas Cage. He’s returned to reclaim a childhood haunt, surfboard in tow, son in the passenger seat, and delusions of peace in his heart. He won’t find it. Lorcan Finnegan’s latest is a sweltering psychological stand-off dressed like a surf movie and soaked in dread.

The Surfer is a mind-bending slow-burn dressed up as a B-movie thriller. It’s Cage versus a sunbaked gang of surf-obsessed bullies — and also, possibly, Cage versus himself. The character may be anonymous, but the role is inseparable from the actor’s well-worn mythology. Cage’s surfer is a former local who left Australia long ago and now returns in his Lexus and mirrored sunglasses, attempting to reinsert himself into a place that has moved on, or turned feral. The beach is policed by a meathead militia led by Scally (Julian McMahon), a corporate alpha gone native, who preaches primal manhood like it’s a TED Talk.

What begins as a father-son outing unravels quickly. The locals, shove him off the beach. The Lexus, the gadgets, the accent, they all mark him as foreign, even if his roots say otherwise. He comes to Lunar Bay not just to ride waves, but to seal the deal on a house that once belonged to his grandfather. But when the locals exile him and his car dies, stranded in the scorching heat things begin to unravel, as he spirals into paranoia and dehydration.

The film has a dreamlike disorientation that mirrors its protagonist’s descent. Cinematographer Radek Ladczuk bathes the screen in harsh light and suffocating close-ups, evoking the surreal menace of a sun-poisoned fever dream. The mood is pure dread with a surreal edge, not far removed from Vivarium, Finnegan’s previous outing. There are moments of dry comedy here too — some intentional, others Cage-fueled. But there’s no denying The Surfer belongs to Cage. Nobody else could bring this level of commitment to a man who goes from boardroom bland to feral madman in under 90 minutes.

Finnegan keeps things lean and confrontational, It’s not polished. It’s not even always coherent, he steers straight into the absurd, letting sweat, paranoia, and rage do the talking. This is masculinity stripped down and sunburnt, where tribal posturing replaces dialogue. It’s caveman masculinity, shirtless standoffs, tribal nonsense, and bros who act like they invented the ocean, the Bay Boys grunt and flex their way through every scene.

The Surfer belongs to Cage. Nobody else could bring this level of commitment to a man who goes from boardroom bland to feral madman in under 90 minutes.

Gender, power, and identity are mashed together, it doesn’t always land those punches cleanly. There’s no evolution in the conflict, Cage’s exile just… intensifies. But when the film does finally crack, it really cracks. Cage, unhinged and bloodied, delivers a pure operatic mania. This kind of cinematic meltdown has become Cage’s new comfort zone. He’s carved out a niche playing men on the brink, whether it’s the blood-drenched vengeance trip of Mandy or utter derangement in Longlegs, he’s left behind the safe, square roles and fully embraced the madness.

Is it good? Not always. Is it interesting? Constantly. It’s an unfiltered, uncomfortable ride through a world of twisted masculinity and unrealized dreams, where the line between grit and nonsense often blurs. The story stumbles, the pacing lurches, but the absurdity hits hard keeping you on edge and keeping you watching.

And in what is a huge testament to Cage’s screen presence, is that without Cage, this wouldn’t be anything more than a weird, disposable B-movie. Instead, he’s what gives it that unpredictable, pulsing energy. Only Cage could take this raw, grizzled film and make it feel like something worth watching, even if you can’t quite say why.

The Surfer hits UK cinemas this Friday, 9th May.

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Facebook Instagram Twitter(X) YouTube TikTok