Here is the rewritten article: What Is 'The Surfer' About? Cage's The Surfer, as he is credited, is a high-flying businessman who is trying to sa
Here is the rewritten article:
What Is ‘The Surfer’ About?
Cage’s The Surfer, as he is credited, is a high-flying businessman who is trying to salvage his broken marriage and distant relationship with his teenage son. He brings his son to the idyllic Luna Bay, where he grew up. Despite his American accent, the Surfer was born and bred on this beach, pursuing a career as a pro-surfer before an incident involving his shady father caused his mother to take him to California. The Surfer has spent his entire life making his way back to this area of the world, and he’s in a bidding war for his childhood home. However, much like Adam Sandler’s Howie Ratner in Uncut Gems, nothing goes his way. A volatile gang of surfers led by Julian McMahon’s Scally forbids the Surfer and his son to take to the waves, as one of his aggressive goons tells them simply, “Don’t live here, don’t surf here.” The Surfer, likely someone who’s not used to the word “no,” puts up a fight, but finally acquiesces when he sees how shaken his son is.
The Surfer returns to the beach the next day, sitting in his car as he tries to source the extra money for a higher bid on his house. The gang starts to taunt him, stealing his surfboard and physically assaulting him when he tries to get it back. The local police are chummy with the gang and do nothing, leaving the Surfer’s only ally (sort of) to be a mentally ill vagrant who’s also targeted by the gang. As the sun sets over this seemingly peaceful seaside, things go from bad to worse for The Surfer, but he refuses to give up and leave the beach. He becomes prey to every person around him, losing everything but the clothes on his back — literally. As the unforgiving sun beats down on his weatherworn skin, the Surfer spirals into a hellish madness, and the dissonance between his perspective and reality progressively grows larger.
‘The Surfer’ Lacks a Strong Message
The Surfer is sure to please all Cage fans, as it sits back and lets him do his thing. Finnegan’s direction continues to mature, making a movie about, essentially, people being horrible to each other, into an engaging thrill ride that makes you severely nauseous but you still don’t want to get off. What ultimately weighs it down is the lack of a core narrative to ground the chaos and madness around it. Still, come for the views, the insanity, and Cage giving away a priceless watch for a flat white.
- Nicolas Cage is commanding and engaging, even when he’s spiralling into complete madness.
- Julian McMahon creates a real-life detestable villain who will have you seething with anger.
- Lorcan Finnegan creates an enthralling experience for all the senses, and will have you bent over from anxiety.
- The movie lacks a coherent plot, which is needed to ground the chaos surrounding it.
- The themes and ideas of the film get lost as it’s difficult to decipher what’s real and what’s been imagined.
The Surfer screened at this year’s BFI London Film Festival.
Conclusion:
The Surfer is a visually stunning and chaotic thriller that showcases Nicolas Cage’s versatility as an actor. While it lacks a coherent plot and strong message, it is an engaging experience that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
FAQs:
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What is The Surfer about?
The Surfer is about a businessman who returns to his childhood home and gets caught up in a cycle of violence and chaos. -
Who is the director of The Surfer?
The director of The Surfer is Lorcan Finnegan. - Is The Surfer worth watching?
Yes, if you enjoy Nicolas Cage and are looking for a thrilling and visually stunning experience, The Surfer is worth watching.
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