Eddington (2025) Movie ft. Joaquin, Pedro, and Emma
Ari Aster, the visionary director behind horror masterpieces Hereditary and Midsommar, ventures into uncharted territory with Eddington. This neo-western satirical black comedy premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, featuring an ensemble cast including Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, Emma Stone, Austin Butler, and Luke Grimes.
The film tackles the contentious events of 2020 through small-town America’s lens. Set in fictional Eddington, New Mexico during May 2020, this A24 production marks Aster’s first venture into the western genre, exploring mask mandates, conspiracy theories, and social fractures that emerged during the pandemic.
Plot and Storyline
Eddington unfolds in a fictional New Mexico town during May 2020’s volatile period. Sheriff Joe Cross (Phoenix), who suffers from asthma, refuses to comply with mask mandates enforced by Mayor Ted Garcia (Pascal).
This seemingly simple disagreement escalates when Cross decides to run for mayor himself, using anti-masking rhetoric as his platform. The conflict becomes personal as Garcia’s complicated history with Cross’s wife Louise (Stone) adds stakes.
Conspiracy theories spread through town via Cross’s mother-in-law, while residents become pawns in an increasingly dangerous political game. The story examines how personal grievances intersect with larger political movements.
Cast Performances
Joaquin Phoenix anchors the film with his characteristically intense performance as Sheriff Cross. He masterfully portrays a man whose legitimate medical concerns gradually transform into something more sinister and politically charged.
Pedro Pascal brings nuanced complexity to Mayor Garcia, avoiding easy villainy despite opposing views. His performance suggests a man trying to maintain order in increasingly unmanageable circumstances.
Emma Stone delivers compelling work as Louise, caught between her husband’s growing extremism and her own moral compass. Her character represents the difficult position many found themselves in during 2020’s political upheavals.
Austin Butler appears in what critics describe as an intriguing but underwritten role, while the supporting cast contributes to the film’s atmosphere of mounting paranoia and social breakdown.
What Works Well
I found Eddington showcases Aster’s evolution beyond horror. The film features excellent cinematography from Darius Khondji that amplifies both satire and tension effectively.
The script’s ambitious scope deserves recognition for tackling such recent controversial subject matter. Aster’s willingness to confront uncomfortable realities of 2020 America sets it apart from more cautious Hollywood productions.
Performances across the board maintain high quality, with Aster getting consistently strong work from his cast. The film successfully balances dark comedy with genuine dramatic tension.
Areas for Improvement
Despite ambitious scope, Eddington suffers from notable weaknesses. The 145-minute runtime feels bloated, with sequences that drag and moments seeming indulgent rather than essential.
Tonal shifts from dark comedy to horror to political allegory can be jarring, leaving audiences disoriented. While genre-blending can be effective, constant shifts sometimes work against overall coherence.
The film’s satirical elements, while often sharp, occasionally feel heavy-handed in their approach to contemporary issues. Some found the provocations more frustrating than illuminating.
Critical Reception
Eddington has generated polarized responses from critics and audiences. Rotten Tomatoes shows 68% of critics’ reviews are positive, with consensus reading the film carries stellar cast, fearless direction but tonal misdirection will leave viewers wanting.
Critics praise its technical craftsmanship and bold thematic choices while being divided on execution. Some praise ambition while others found it scattered and self-indulgent.
User reviews reflect this division, with reception closely tied to viewers’ personal experiences and political perspectives regarding 2020 events. The film succeeds as a provocative artistic statement but may struggle finding broad commercial appeal.
Rating: 3.5/5
