2020 will always be remembered as the year America faced a reckoning of its own making. On the one hand, you have the pandemic and how our government completely fumbled it. On the other hand, due to racist systems that have been in place for centuries, the country suffered a blow to its moral conscience and was forced to deal with the epidemic of racism. With “Shelter in Place” protocols nationwide, the world watched as George Floyd suffered police brutality via a knee to his neck, leading to his death moments later. Between inept leadership and racism dismissed by dissonance, the one thing that outshone them both was delirium.
Director Ari Aster had a lot to get off his chest and did so through his latest project, Eddington. Aster, known for his A24 horror films Hereditary and Midsommar, blends horror with elements of dark comedy and psychological drama. In Eddington, the dark comedy shows itself as revenge, hubris, and pure satirical wit. The horror component, which was not on my radar at all, appeared in a completely unorthodox manner, leading me to question if the film’s misdirection was purposeful.
The trailer would have you believe the film was about a showdown between a local mayor and sheriff, but that rivalry pales in comparison to the multitude of events that unfold. Conspiracies, cults, and futile protests erode the unity that existed in the small town of Eddington, New Mexico.
The mayor of Eddington, Ted Garcia (Pedro Pascal), is doing what we were all instructed to do in 2020: wearing a mask. Taking place in May, a time when some states were sheltering in place while others made up rules of their own, Sheriff Joe Cross (Joaquin Phoenix) sided with the latter, seeing the masks as uncomfortable and restrictive. An asthmatic, Cross despised the mask mandate so much that he challenged the mayor for his seat. The growing divide over the mandate starts to dissolve any semblance of peace in Eddington and ultimately leads to a reckoning with deadly implications.
The film constantly maneuvered between the fictional and the not-so-fictional, challenging audiences to think about the society we’ve created. We take a closer look at the actions people take regarding masks, the mandate, the seriousness of the virus, and how we treat each other. We see the extremes of both parties (Democrat and Republican), the conspiracy theorists whose lies damaged families, and the violence that erupted as a result.
Some things worked well, while others fell flat. First off, it was about 45 minutes too long. The addition of masked mercenaries and a killing spree went a bit off the rails, but again, the horror and psychological drama had to come in somewhere. Everything that unfolded after the killing spree was unnecessary and felt like its sole purpose was to extend the runtime. Emma Stone and Austin Butler were great, and the steady infusion of humor was well-received. There were carefully placed subtleties like COVID-19 symptoms appearing periodically and moments that mocked real people (toward the end, a series of events mirrored that of Kyle Rittenhouse). With an unclear motive and a hazy plot, there was too much stuffed into this film. It would’ve boded better for Aster had they stuck with the plot the trailer was pushing with the town’s rival leaders.
Eddington gets a 7 out of 10. This is one you can definitely wait to stream. If you’re enjoying this moment in the sun for Pedro Pascal, good on you. For those who feel oversaturated, you’ll be done for a bit after Fantastic Four: First Steps. Either way, three films (Eddington, Materialists, Fantastic Four) and a popular TV series (The Last of Us) in one year is pretty stellar. Austin Butler shone bright as a side character in this film, but will take the reins next month in Caught Stealing. Finally, and most importantly, nothing about this film is a modern-day western. Not modern-day, contemporary, or anything in between. This COVID satire is set in a fictional town in a very real New Mexico.
Eddington showed us how ugly society can be, and somewhat mirrors what we’ve become. At some point, people are going to have to put others before themselves and relearn what it means to live life together.
Eddington is now in theatres.
-Jon Jones
Photos: A24
Genre: Dark Comedy/Drama
Rating: R
Runtime: 2 hrs 28 mins
Trailer: Watch
U.S. Release Date: July 18, 2025