Experiencing Difficulties: An Overview
Head to the big screen now to check out "The Surfer," directed by Lorcan Finnegan and starring the one and only Nicolas Cage. This movie's a wild, psychedelic ride, despite only running for a mere 100 minutes. But don't let its brevity fool you; the film's musings on the crisis of masculinity get lost in a sea of ambiguity.
Inspired by "The Swimmer" (1968), directed by Frank Perry and Sydney Pollack, Finnegan wanted to create a surrealistic drama about traditional values like success, wealth, family, and suburban life being nothing but a bunch of illusionary bunk.
"The Surfer" doesn't hold back on paying homage to '70s exploitation films about countercultures and the outsiders who clash with local toughs in the most godforsaken corners. Cage's character, initially reserved but gradually becoming more unhinged, is a businessman returning to his childhood home in Australia. He plans to buy and live in the childhood home he's about to purchase, hoping to give his son, Finn Little, the same happy upbringing he had before something terrible happened to his dad (revealed through ghostly flashbacks).
But there's a local group of men known as "cove dwellers" who call the beach their territory, and they don't take kindly to outsiders. They're led by Scalli, played by Julian McMahon, who serves as essentially an Australian version of Tyler Durden. After a humiliating confrontation with Scalli and his posse, the businessman's son leaves, and the father stays to prove something to the "cove dwellers," who proceed to torment him, vandalizing his car, stealing his surfboard, and even his car.
The film becomes a tale of the businessman's descent into insanity, with the camera work, wild sounds of nature, and Cage's increasingly crazy facial expressions driving home the point.
As for themes, "The Surfer" explores isolation, madness, power dynamics, masculinity, surfing as a metaphor for life, class, and belonging. Finnegan uses a surreal, thriller-inspired style, employing '70s exploitation aesthetics and drawing influences from films like "The Swimmer," "Wake in Fright," and "Lord of the Flies."
In short, "The Surfer" is a wild, crazy ride, with Cage delivering yet another eccentric performance. Whether you're interested in themes of identity crises, societal collapse, or meaning in chaos, this film has you covered. Just be prepared to suffer when it comes to figuring out what the heck it's all about.
Lorcan Finnegan, inspired by 'The Swimmer', aimed to create a surrealistic drama, with "The Surfer" paying homage to '70s exploitation films about countercultures. Nicolas Cage plays a businessman in Australia who clashes with local toughs, led by Julian McMahon's character Scalli.
"The Surfer" delves into themes such as isolation, madness, power dynamics, masculinity, surfing as a metaphor for life, class, and belonging. The film utilizes a surreal, thriller-inspired style, with influences from movies like "The Swimmer", "Wake in Fright", and "Lord of the Flies".
Cage's eccentric performance adds to the film's wild, crazy ride, making it a must-watch for those interested in themes of identity crises, societal collapse, or meaning in chaos, but be prepared for a challenging interpretation.
Despite running only for a mere 100 minutes, "The Surfer" presents a deep exploration of the crisis of masculinity, lost amongst a sea of ambiguity.
