Humane

Film: Humane

Year: 2024

Directors: Caitlin Cronenberg

Writers: Michael Sparaga

Starring: Jay Baruchel, Emily Hampshire and Peter Gallagher

Review:

This was a movie that I caught part of the trailer when I was seeing something at the Gateway Film Center. What captured my attention was seeing that this was directed by Caitlin Cronenberg. I'm a fan of her father, David, and her brother, Brandon, so I wanted to see what she could do. Featuring Jay Baruchel, Emily Hampshire and Peter Gallagher also worked in its favor. I’ve now given it a second watch with it streaming on Shudder to see where my thoughts would land for my end of year list.

Synopsis: in the wake of an environmental collapse that is forcing humanity to shed 20% of its population, a family dinner erupts into chaos when a father's plan goes awry.

Building from the synopsis, I thought this did well in setting up the world that we're in through a news report. Climate change was ignored and now due to overpopulation, resources need to be rationed. A new worldwide ordinance was put in. Countries have a quota to fill of euthanizing citizens to not consume the remaining resources. I also got the idea to start fixing issues with the environment as well.

We are following a specific, wealthy family. The patriarch is Charles York (Gallagher). He was a host of a mainstream news station, ala Walter Cronkite or Peter Jennings. He has two sons and two daughters. Jared (Baruchel) is an anthropologist working with the government. He makes harsh comments on the news that upsets his son and ex-wife. The next child is Rachel (Hampshire) who I get the idea that she works for a pharmaceutical company. Bad decisions and information were given which resulted in people getting hurt by one of their products. She also has a daughter, Mia (Sirena Gulamgaus).

The other two children aren't as successful. Ashley (Alanna Bale) is a struggling actor. Noah (Sebastian Chacon) was adopted and he is a recovering addict. He has a live-in girlfriend of Grace (Blessing Adeijo) who he met in a meeting. Noah was a prodigy with playing the piano before his addiction. He also was in a car accident while high that caused him to walk with a cane and has a scar on his face. There's one other member of the family, Dawn (Uni Park), who is the stepmother after Charles' first wife passed away. She is a famous restaurateur.

Now I'm going to avoid spoilers, but Charles calls his children to the house for a dinner party. Dawn owned a restaurant before it was burned down. There is hate toward Asians as they're blamed for the overpopulation of the world. Charles only wanted adults to attend, but Rachel brought Mia due to not having someone to watch her. What I'll say is that Charles has volunteered to be euthanized. He thinks that Dawn is on board with the decision. This blindsides his children and even more so when the unit shows up that night. Charles didn't read the fine print and what happens from here starts a nightmare. We truly see what happens when you're faced with your mortality and what you’ll give up to survive.

That is where I'll leave my recap and introduction to the characters. Where I want to start is that I can see this movie turning people off due to the social commentary that is built into the fabric of the story. I don't think you can ignore it. Personally, it didn't feel to me to be in your face. I took this as you need to just know these elements of the world to understand what is happening. The biggest one though is if you don't believe in climate change, you might just be turned off to this movie. Just wanted that disclaimer here.

With that out of the way, I do like the approach to discussing global issues here. We also have commentary on the government, information and what we can trust. I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but I also don't blindly believe what the government tells us either. This sets up that the ozone layer has been damaged to where extra protection is needed from the sun. I like how this is subtly done with plastic over windows. We see people getting their water ration at the start. I loved this duality to the dinner that is being made by Dawn. Jared comments on it when he shows up as well. It is early that we also learn that each country is tasked with killing off 20% of their population. That is the 'quota'. Like the military back for the world wars and the cold war, volunteers are asked for first. If that doesn't work, a draft will be done.

Then to delve deeper into the specific group we’re following, this family hates each other. It is interesting as they grew up rich and had every opportunity afforded them due to their status. I do like that commentary there about how they don't struggle the same way as 'normal' people. Jared and Rachel are highly successful, but they're horrible people. Noah is a good guy, but he also took the route of drugs. I get that happened due to the pressure of being a 'prodigy' with the piano. He couldn't handle it. He also got into a fatal car accident, needing his father’s help. Ashley is a struggling actor. Since she doesn't truly need to work, she is skating by. There is tension between Jared and his father. Charles was critical of the government where Jared seemed like a mouthpiece. Noah brings up a conspiracy about the lying surrounding the numbers who volunteered. Jared wants that person's name as they should be 'punished'. That's a fascist approach and treading on their right to free speech. We're seeing the United States here turning into a scary place that builds a good atmosphere. It isn't out of the realm of possibility which helps. I also saw parallel to the numbers of COVID deaths during the lock down.

There’s another angle here that I wanted to bring up that seems inspired by COVID and that is the racist look at who to blame. I don’t know if I picked up on it or forgot until this second watch. It is brought up by Jared that it is considered an Asian issue. This upsets Charles and states that is the same rhetoric that caused Dawn’s restaurant to be burned down. I can see where Jared is coming from. China and India have two of the largest populations in the world. It is an interesting idea to bring up with the story we have here.

There's another angle I want to explore and it comes with this group who euthanize people. They're led by Bob (Enrico Colantoni). He's friendly, but there's a scary side to him as things get said. His unit also comes armed. There's an interesting reveal here that the first people to 'volunteer' were prisoners. That meant that guards were let go. They seem to transition over to this unit here. What is terrifying is that it gets revealed that without prisons, these guys lost their income. There is a new way they can make money and won't be easily swayed. This adds tension and horror to me. It also is an interesting commentary on the ‘for profit’ prison system.

That should be enough for the story. The story we are following is simple to be honest. There is a lot going on under the surface, but what we're getting is a variation on home invasion. It is more about trapping our family inside with an impossible decision. I love seeing the true colors of these siblings come out. Baruchel and Hampshire are horrible characters, but their performances are great to bring them to life. I like Gallagher who seems so noble, but Charles is too concerned with how he will be remembered. I like Chacon was this adopted child who is trying to make up for things he did in the past. It isn't easy with how judgmental everyone else is. I also like Bale who doesn't have much to show for a career. Her greed drives her as well. Colantoni, Martin Roach and all his group were solid. They're this borderline military force that is keeping everyone trapped. I like Gulamgaus, Park and the rest of the cast to round this out for what was needed.

All that is left then is filmmaking. First, I will say that I love this world it is set in. This feels like things that her brother and father do so well. It feels like our world is just slightly different. It is that bit that makes it work. The cinematography is good. I love how it captures this setting where our group is trapped. I'll credit there for sure. If I do have an issue it comes with how it ends. I feel like it slightly pulls its punch. I've been sitting on it and writing this the day after seeing it. What I've concluded is that it fits this family and their sensibilities. What does work though are the effects. This isn't body horror, but it shows attacks and wounds with brutal realism. I liked that. I also thought the sound design worked and the music fit what was needed.

In conclusion, I enjoyed this movie. The social commentary might turn people off, but I thought that it helped create the world this is set in. I also think it asks interesting questions. The performances here are good across the board. Baruchel, Hampshire, Gallagher, Chacon, Bale and Colantoni set up the story and bring their characters to life to make it work. The contained atmosphere helps build tension. I thought this was well made. The cinematography, framing and effects were good there. I just wanted a bit more with the ending, but it fit the narrative. I can see this being divisive due to the underlying messages and themes. If you can just enjoy what you're getting here, I recommend it. I’ll say that I’m glad that I watched this a second time as it solidified my thoughts on it for sure.

My Rating: 8 out of 10