By Romey Norton - October 22, 2024
Beautiful Friend is an incel horror film, from the perspective of an incel, and his disturbing actions and their dire consequences. Truman Kewley has created a thought-provoking and troubling film, brought to life by the detailed script and excellent acting.
The film follows the story of a sociopathic amateur filmmaker called Daniel (Adam Jones), who kidnaps a woman he wants to play his fantasy girlfriend role. His character is inspired by the manifesto of a mass shooter from 2014, who documented his life, from his traumas to mental health struggles, which ultimately led to a tragic death. This character is complex, and unsettling, and allows the film to open discussions about misogyny, gender, violence, and extremism.
For those who might not be familiar with the term, Incels are heterosexual men who blame society and women for their lack of romantic success. The term has been around since the 90s but the extremism and mass violence escalated from 2018 onwards.
The film opens with the world hearing about COVID-19, which we now know means a lockdown, isolation, and mass anxiety. We watch a young man with a soft and incredibly creepy voice, watch and talk about people around him - objectifying and insulting women instantly. It’s obvious Daniel will pursue his unfulfilled desires in an unethical and disturbing way, and because of this, it’s an uncomfortable and intense watch.
Beautiful Friend is shot like a documentary, with an internal monologue running throughout. This style of filming is intriguing and will hold your attention. The film has a You vibe but is far more menacing and dangerous.
As a female viewer, I found this film uncomfortable, and spine-chilling, and at times I was scared - scared in the sense that I truly believe this could happen and there are people out in the world acting, feeling, and thinking like Daniel. My emotional reactions are due to the realistic script, scenarios, and compelling acting.
Adam Jones does extremely well in portraying a disturbed young man with deep-rooted issues that he expresses through his self-pity and hatred of women. His voice is chilling, and his actions even more so. Even though his internal feelings are said throughout, I did not once feel sorry for his character. Instead, I felt fear and shame for him. Alexandrea Meyer plays the kidnapped woman Maddison Richards with high emotions and intensity. There are some truly vulnerable moments, and Meyer gives a strong, dramatic performance, and is an actress to look out for in future films.
There are some horrible scenes, including rape and assault, which are very graphic. At just eighty minutes, the film keeps a solid pace but I began to wonder where the story was going. I didn’t just want to watch a woman being tortured and a man feeling sorry for himself and contemplating what the meaning of life is. I needed the stakes to be higher for him, in terms of being discovered/found out, which would have allowed for some character development and progression.
Towards the end, there’s a clear Stockholm syndrome and survival aspect, as the two ‘act’ like a real couple, in hopes for Maddison to gain some level of control and escape. It’s not a satisfying ending, and in a way, I was glad it was over. My main take is, “If you want people to like you, just be yourself” - unless you’re an incel.
Like a long, gruelling CSI episode, Beautiful Friend brings to life the harsh realities that incels are capable of. It opens up questions about society, gender, relationships, extremism, and the fragility of the male ego. Whilst the film is hard to watch, it feels important - a must-see!
BEAUTIFUL FRIEND IS AVAILABLE ON AMAZON OCTOBER 31
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