Ari Aster is known for some very interesting horror films like Hereditary and Midsommar, which made me wonder how he would approach a film set in the early days of the pandemic.
The film centers around Eddington, New Mexico Sheriff Joe Cross (Joaquin Phoenix). His view of the world, and the people in it, is a bit off-center, as we would say here in Texas. He loves his wife a lot, his live-in mother-in-law not so much.
His attitude towards the pandemic and the government’s mask mandate led him to ignore it, which ruffled a lot of feathers in the town. His animosity towards the mayor (played by Pedro Pascal) begins to show. This eventually takes on a very large part of his daily life.
The story is complex, revolving around and around itself as the sheriff gets more and more wound up in his desires and his pain. This story’s assortment subplots are complicated in so many ways that it would be challenging to explain them, even if I were allowed to.
At 148 minutes (just under two and a half hours), this is too long a film for its script. It is a sad story, no matter which side of the political issues you find yourself on. The pandemic was a time of political turmoil, and this film sadly displays many of the idiotic things that went on.
Some may disagree, but this is a weirdly twisted horror-type film that uses the pandemic and politics, enhanced by paranoia and fear, to move its storyline forward.
Is it a good film? That’s a tough question. It kept me in my seat trying to anticipate what the heck was going to happen next, but was I happy I sat there? Not really.
Director: Ari Aster
Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, Luke Grimes, Deirdre O’Connell, Micheal Ward, Amélie Hoeferle, Clifton Collins Jr., William Belleau, Austin Butler, Emma Stone
MPA Rating: R (for strong violence, some grisly images, language, and graphic nudity)
Selig Rating: 2.0 Stars
Runtime: 148 Min.
Release Date: 07/18/2025
Language: English
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Western
Movie Site: EDDINGTON Movie Website
Trailer: EDDINGTON Official Trailer 2
The Selig Rating Scale:
5 Stars – Excellent movie, well worth the price.
4 Stars – Good movie
3 Stars – OK movie
2 Stars – No need to rush. Save it for a rainy day.
1 Star – Good that I saw it on the big screen but wish I hadn’t paid for it.