USA | UK | Finland 2025
Opening November 20, 2025

Directed by: Ari Aster
Writing credits: Ari Aster
Principal actors: Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, Emma Stone, Austin Butler

Eddington was definitely not the film I thought I was signing up for. It’s marketed as a small-town drama about life during COVID-19, but it quickly turns into a strange and violent spiral that feels over the top and pretty miserable to sit through.

Joaquin Phoenix plays a sheriff who becomes an unhinged anti-mask conspiracy theorist, clashing with Pedro Pascal’s level-headed mayor. That setup could have worked, but the story loses focus fast. It tries to be a horror movie, a political commentary, and a character drama all at once, and none of it really comes together. Emma Stone’s character, the sheriff’s wife, is barely developed. She seems to be dealing with some kind of trauma, but we never find out what actually happened or if it even did. Then she suddenly runs off with Austin Butler, who plays a cult leader for reasons that never quite make sense.

The movie does tap into how tense and divided those early pandemic days felt, but that’s about the only thing it gets right. The rest is confusing, too gory, and not enjoyable to watch. (Erin H.)