Humane (2024)

August 1, 2024 1:29 PM

[TRAILER] After environmental collapse forces humanity to shed 20% of its population, a family dinner erupts into chaos when a father (Peter Gallagher) explains his plan to enlist in the government's new euthanasia program to his assembled children (Jay Baruchel, Emily Hampshire, Sebastian Chacon, Alanna Bale.) The debut feature film of director Caitlin Cronenberg, who is indeed one of those Cronenbergs.

Also starring Enrico Colantoni, Uni Park, Sirena Gulamgaus.

Directed by Caitlin Cronenberg. Written by Michael Sparaga. Produced by Michael Sparaga for Elevation Pictures/IFC Films. Cinematography by Douglas Koch. Edited by Orlee Buium. Music by Todor Kobakov.

71% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.

posted by DirtyOldTown (10 comments total)

I found myself comparing this to the recent Silent Night. I'd say that this film is better directed (Cronenberg is a professional photographer, so it looks good). It has a better understanding of the savagery of its story, in particular in the hilarious performance by Enrico Colantoni (Keith Mars from Veronica Mars.)

However, the script is pretty lacking and doesn't give the actors as much to chew on, so I'd say it's nearly as much of a misfire.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 1:32 PM on August 1 [2 favorites]

Forgot to mention: this is currently streaming on Shudder.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 1:35 PM on August 1 [1 favorite]

The lighting is terrible. The ending is also bad.
posted by Ideefixe at 2:14 PM on August 1

The film was most convincing when it was vicious or comic, less so when it tried to be satirical or insightful. I would have strongly preferred an entire film from Colantoni's character's POV.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 9:05 PM on August 1 [1 favorite]

I found this disappointing. I, sadly, fell for the trailer I saw. I think if I had gone in blind, I would have liked it better.
posted by miss-lapin at 10:34 PM on August 1

Okay, DoT, I'm game to watch this without trailers and see if it's comparable other weird movies I've enjoyed that many others didn't, like Coherence or Possessor (from yet another Cronenberg family director).

Sounds like a cross between Ready or Not and Repo Men, kind of... I've got some time to kill this weekend!
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 9:15 AM on August 2

I like the work of Brandon Cronenberg (Antiviral, Possessor, and Infinity Pool). Like his father he's very interested in body horror and issues with identity, which I absolutely love. This is not at all like those movies. If I had to throw out a similar film, I'd say the Purge.
posted by miss-lapin at 10:03 PM on August 2 [1 favorite]

I wish this had been like The Purge. It did not at all have that film's/series' relentless, pitiless forward motion.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 6:00 PM on August 3 [1 favorite]

Yes, it definitely needed more of that. It's more the premise as well as some of the classism that make me thing The Purge not the execution. (Pun intended.)
posted by miss-lapin at 7:22 PM on August 3 [1 favorite]

Man, this was just mid. Would have been better if the same type of story hadn't already been more ably addressed in recent years/other films, but I'd give it a solid B- or C+.
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 11:35 AM on August 4 [1 favorite]