Wikipedia

Foe (film)

Foe is a 2023 science fiction psychological thriller film directed by Australian director Garth Davis, from a screenplay he co-wrote with Canadian writer Iain Reid, based on Reid's 2018 novel of the same name. An Australian-U.S. co-production filmed in Australia, the film stars Saoirse Ronan, Paul Mescal, and Aaron Pierre. The core story concerns a young couple, Hen and Junior, having marital issues when Junior is called to serve on a space station.

Foe
Theatrical release poster
Directed byGarth Davis
Screenplay by
Based onFoe
by Iain Reid
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyMátyás Erdély
Edited byPeter Sciberras
Music by
Production
companies
Distributed by
Release dates
  • September 30, 2023 (2023-09-30) (NYFF)
  • October 6, 2023 (2023-10-06) (United States)
  • November 2, 2023 (2023-11-02) (Australia)
Running time
110 minutes[1]
Countries
  • Australia
  • United States

Foe premiered at the 2023 New York Film Festival on September 30, 2023. It was released in the United States by Amazon MGM Studios on October 6, 2023, and in Australia by Transmission Films on November 2, 2023. In early 2024, the film was available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.

Plot edit

By the year 2065, fresh water and habitable land have become scarce, the cities overcrowded and the rural places abandoned. A young couple, Hen and Junior, have stayed on at Junior’s family farm. Hen stands in the shower, sobbing uncontrollably. A voiceover intones “I’ve lost those parts of who I am or who I could be, and I’m scared I won’t ever get them back.”

That night a man who calls himself Terrance visits. He says he represents OuterMore, the corporation organizing the off-world colony. He says there was a lottery. Junior made the shortlist. The testing process takes about two years. Stunned, Junior asks what will happen if he refuses. Terrance speaks of the days of the old wars and refers to the word conscription. This is just a warning, he says, then catches himself. It is good news: Junior will be a hero to mankind.

After Terrance leaves, Hen goes straight to bed and asks Junior to sleep in the guest room. Taken aback, Junior suggests Hen knew Terrance was coming. And what about the way Terrance was looking at Hen? Eventually he leaves the room. For a time Hen and Junior live separate lives on the homestead. Then one morning after some time Hen approaches Junior’s bed. She watches the sleeping body. She takes his hand and places it against her. After they make love, Junior says he has always been happy and has never doubted their marriage. For a time things are alright. Hen cries now and then. One day she finds herself standing in the field by the tree trying to push her face into a smile. But mostly things are alright.

A year later Terrance returns. He announces that Junior is scheduled to leave in two weeks. As Hen and Junior attempt to protest, Terrance states that he will be staying in the house to observe Junior. After further protests, Hen and Junior grow silent.

Terrance is shown living in the house, interviewing Junior and administering unusual tests. One night, Terrance and Hen drink and carouse while Junior looks on feebly. Later, Junior notices an unusual bug on the ground. It is not moving. Junior points this out. Hen says nothing. They see a fire in the distance. As Hen gazes spellbound, Junior begins running toward it. Hen runs after him. Junior keeps running and just as he appears to run into the fire two shadowy figures tackle him.

Junior awakes in bandages, Hen and Terrance watching him. He was injured, they say. The fire was started by men burning an old barn. Terrance intensifies his monitoring, explaining that Junior’s replacement will need to know what Junior knows. Wandering through the house, Junior finds a recording of Terrance interviewing Hen. In the recording, Hen frets over how she has lost parts of who she is and is scared she won’t ever get them back. Terrance’s voice is heard assuring her that the replacement will be all but identical.

Junior is declining. One day, Junior sees shadowy figures on the perimeter of the property and chases them away with a shotgun. That night, Terrance puts metal wristbands on Junior. He says they are for monitoring Junior’s hydration. The next morning Hen sits waiting in the kitchen. She is wearing a dress. Outside, a vehicle approaches. Junior steps into the kitchen and embraces Hen, saying how he has missed her. After a moment, they walk into the next room where Terrance and a team from OuterMore are working. Junior stares in fascination at a body shackled to the floor. It is identical to his. Terrance is talking, marveling at OuterMore’s success. He says they never expected Hen and the replacement to fall in love. He says people will write about it for years. Members of the OuterMore team approach the shackled figure with a syringe. Outside, Hen lays in the dirt weeping.

Hen and Junior try to rekindle their relationship but they are different now and it is no good. One morning Junior wakes to the sound of a truck leaving. For a time Junior goes on with his life. Terrance is seen visiting the house. After this, Hen returns. She sits still and upright and does not cry. Junior is happier now and it seems Hen is happier too and they make love in the evening and drink beer on the porch. One morning Hen notices an unusual bug. It is not moving. Hen points this out. Junior says nothing.

In the city on the other side of the valley Hen gazes out the window of a plane as the crew makes final preparations for take-off.

Cast edit

Production edit

It was announced in June 2021 that Garth Davis would be directing the film in addition to co-writing with the author of the novel, Iain Reid. Saoirse Ronan, Paul Mescal, and Lakeith Stanfield were announced to star.[2] In October, Aaron Pierre was cast to replace Stanfield.[3]

Filming began in Winton, Victoria, Australia, in January 2022[4] and wrapped in South Australia in April 2022.[citation needed]

Release edit

Amazon Studios entered negotiations for the distribution rights in July 2021.[5] On August 15, 2023, along with first look images of the film, it was revealed that it would be released by Amazon Studios on October 6, 2023, in the United States, before the distributor rebranded to Amazon MGM Studios following their 2022 acquisition of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.[6][7]

The film premiered at the 2023 New York Film Festival as part of the Spotlight Gala[8] on September 30.[9]

The film was scheduled to be released in Australia by Transmission Films on October 19,[10] before it was delayed to November 2, 2023.[11]

Foe was released on Prime Video on January 5, 2024.[12]

Reception edit

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 24% of 111 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 4.7/10. The website's consensus reads: "Paul Mescal and Saoirse Ronan give it all they've got, but they're ultimately undone by Foe's clunky sci-fi trappings and ponderous attempts to generate psychological thrills."[13] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 44 out of 100, based on 34 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.[14]

Luke Goodsell wrote for ABC Arts after its release in Australia: "Oscar nominees Ronan and Mescal are both charismatic, gripping performers, and they give Hen and Junior a rich sense of lived-in love and loathing. But despite the stars' best, hot-and-bothered exertion, Davis and Reid's screenplay eventually hangs them out to dry".[15]

References edit

  1. ^ "Foe (2023) - 15A". Irish Film Classification Office. September 12, 2023. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  2. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (June 11, 2021). "Saoirse Ronan, Paul Mescal, LaKeith Stanfield To Star In Garth Davis-Directed Grounded Sci-Fi Thriller 'Foe' – Cannes Market". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 11, 2021. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  3. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (October 20, 2021). "Amazon Locks In Garth Davis Sci-Fi Thriller 'Foe' In $30M+ Deal; Aaron Pierre Joins Saoirse Ronan & Paul Mescal In Cast". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on October 20, 2021. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  4. ^ McGoldrick, Debbie (January 27, 2022). "Paul Mescal and Saoirse Ronan start filming Foe in Oz". Irish Central. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
  5. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (July 6, 2021). "Amazon Studios In Exclusive Talks For Worldwide Rights On 'Foe,' Garth Davis-Helmed Pic Saoirse Ronan, Paul Mescal, LaKeith Stanfield Starrer From Anonymous Content". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on July 6, 2021. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
  6. ^ Canfield, David (August 15, 2023). "First Look: Paul Mescal and Saoirse Ronan Face a Dangerous Future in Foe". Vanity Fair. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  7. ^ de la Fuente, Anne Marie (October 3, 2023). "Amazon Studios Now Called Amazon MGM Studios, Exec Pablo Iacoviello Reveals in Iberseries Keynote". Variety. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
  8. ^ "61st New York Film Festival Spotlight Announced". Film at Lincoln Center. August 17, 2023. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  9. ^ "Foe". Film at Lincoln Center. October 8, 2023. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
  10. ^ The IF Team (August 25, 2023). "'Foe' (Trailer)". IF Magazine. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  11. ^ "Foe – Big Screen Premiere Mon 30 Oct at 6.30pm". ACMI. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  12. ^ "Paul Mescal and Saoirse Ronan's Foe confirms Prime Video release date". www.digitalspy.com. November 20, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  13. ^ "Foe". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  14. ^ "Foe". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  15. ^ Goodsell, Luke (November 2, 2023). "Foe review: Paul Mescal and Saoirse Ronan bring sultriness to their on-screen marriage but it's spoiled by earnestness". ABC News (Australia). Retrieved November 1, 2023.

External links edit

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