BONUS EPISODE: MEN (2022)

Note: from Oct 2021-June 2022, the podcast was known as 21 Jump Scare and was organized in a slightly different fashion, with different awards.

Background (spoiler-free) 0:00-10:55
Discussion (spoiler-heavy) 10:56-49:17
Awards (spoilers for days) 49:18

Director Alex Garland
Screenplay Alex Garland
Featuring Jessie Buckley, Paapa Essiedu, Rory Kinnear, Gayle Rankin

Opened: May 20, 2022
Gross, USA/Canada: $7,587,853
Gross, Worldwide: $11,152,236

SPOILER-FREE SYNOPSIS

The film centers on Harper, a working professional from London, who, following the death of her husband, repairs to a large country house for some much-needed R&R. Wracked by grief and guilt over her husband’s death, which could have been accident or suicide, Harper seems ready to turn the page on this part of her life. Then she meets the house’s caretaker, Geoffrey, who seems nice enough, but also has a few screws loose.  Harper takes a walk through the nearby woods and comes across an old railroad tunnel, into which she shouts and sings, enjoying the sound of her echoing voice, layered over itself.  All seems well until she notices the man at the end of the tunnel – and then, minutes later, the same man, naked as a jaybird, in a nearby field.  Walking home, and filled with a sudden sense of dread, Harper is surprised to find the man standing in her back yard.  She calls the police, who apprehend the man, but Harper’s peace has been shattered, and what began as a time to decompress and get away from it all turns into a nightmare as the male inhabitants of the quiet, idyllic village all begin turning their attention on Harper for reasons we do not initially understand.

EPISODE NOTES

Music from “Men” by Geoff Barrow & Ben Salisbury. “Love Song” by Lesley Duncan.

TRAILER

AWARDS

The Tom Six Award for Most Disturbing Scene
Bradford: The “repeating birth” scene towards end of film
Eric: The “repeating birth” scene towards end of film

The Seth Brundle Award for Most Likable Character
Bradford: Harper
Eric: Harper

The Ellen Ripley Award for Character that Most Deserved to Live
Bradford: [Abstaining]
Eric: [Abstaining]

The John Doe Award for Character that Most Deserved to Die (and Does)
Bradford: [Abstaining]
Eric: (tie) Geoffrey and James

The Gaspar Noe Award/Ken Russell Award for Most Gratuitous Screen Moment
Bradford: The vicar places both halves of his hand/arm on Harper’s shoulders
Eric: The slow, deliberate splitting of the arm and hand as it retreats through the mail slot