Alex Garland's A24 horror movie Men stars Jessie Buckley as Harper Marlowe, a woman hoping for a peaceful and healing stay at an old country house. She has lost her abusive husband James (Paapa Essiedu) and needs some time away. Before too long, Harper begins seeing different creepy and possibly dangerous men with the same face (all played by Rory Kinnear).
While the premise is interesting and the movie seems to have a wise message about what being a woman is like, Men isn't entirely successful. While some of what the film wants to say is clear, it's possible to say that the film is trying hard to be an elevated horror movie instead of focusing on the story.
There's been a debate on elevated horror for a while now, and it makes sense. Some feel that the horror genre should always reach for something meaningful and powerful to say about society. Others believe that scary films already have important messages and there's no need to be too intense about it. Men is definitely not a movie that is easy to stop thinking about or look away from, and it's absolutely in an elevated horror movie. It has a message about toxic masculinity, the fear that women feel on a daily basis thanks to the constant threat of men, and it's also about Jessie's abusive husband.
But while Men is a folk horror movie about misogyny and it does have some effective scenes speaking to that theme, including Jessie's peaceful country stay being interrupted by a naked man stalking her outside, it's ultimately too confusing and trying hard to be "elevated." This makes it more of an art project than an entertaining movie and fleshed out, detailed, perceptive story.
It's impossible to talk about Men without discussing the final act. While some horror movie endings are satisfying, this one is strange, baffling, and honestly, gross. After being terrorized by many men who have the same face, Jessie sees several pregnant men, one after another, and each one gives birth to another. They are each covered in blood, with distorted bodies, and screaming at her, seeming to want her to take away their pain. But figuring out what this ending means is up for debate and that might not appeal to every horror fan who just wants a good story.
Alex Garland was inspired by "The Green Man," which The LA Times says is an "ancient piece of pagan iconography." Garland explained in an interview with the publication, “In medieval churches, you’ll see this male face with leaves pushing out of the mouth or intertwining with beard. You’ll see it on Victorian buildings. There’s pubs called the Green Man Pub. It’s so commonplace but people don’t ever notice it particularly. And that always interested me.” Garland was also influenced by the classic story of Adam and Eve.
There are many Reddit threads devoted to Men and to the ending specifically. Some fans feel that the story is about the seven deadly sins. Others say that when the male characters keep giving birth to one another, that is addressing the fact that toxic masculinity and misogyny is passed down. These things are absolutely true and worth talking about. But at the same time, watching Harper walk down a dark street alone or seeing different men coming up to her and insulting her or making her feel bad about herself feels too obvious and on the nose.
Men suffers because it doesn't really have enough story. The highest-grossing A24 horror movies always have something to say, but they are entertaining at the end of the day. It's not fun watching Harper face these different men throughout the movie, feel terrified to stay in this house, and work through painful and dark memories of her abusive husband hurting her and then dying. Not every horror film should be fun, so that's okay.
But there is more of a focus on what the movie means than the plot, and that makes the viewing experience dull. Much of the film consists of Harper walking in the woods behind the house that she's renting, visiting the church in town, and going to the pub. She then hides at the house for the remainder of the film, absolutely terrified. Why doesn't Harper just leave? Why doesn't her friend know where she's staying? There are a few things that don't make any sense and these plot holes may it hard to truly buy the film.
Men can be praised for having one of the best horror movie settings, and the movie is beautifully shot and composed. The scenes of Harper walking through nature are, without a doubt, gorgeous and memorable. But while Men is an example of "woke" horror movies, it's not going to be the most satisfying viewing experience for everyone.