Ari Aster’s ‘Eddington’: Joaquin Phoenix vs. Pedro Pascal in a Wild Western Thriller!

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At last, we’ve gotten a glimpse of Ari Aster’s fourth movie, titled “Eddington” – a western-thriller. From the trailer alone, it appears that Aster isn’t following the path of his previous works like “Hereditary” or “Beau Is Afraid”. Instead, “Eddington” seems to offer something entirely new and unexpected from this director.

Remarkable director Ari Aster burst onto the cinema landscape in a significant manner with his gripping debut, “Hereditary,” released in 2018. This harrowing psychological horror film was marked by an unparalleled depth of detail that left a lasting impression on audiences. To this day, “Hereditary” remains A24’s fourth-highest-grossing film, and many believe it deserved Oscar recognition. Just a year later, Aster followed up with the equally haunting and thought-provoking “Midsommar.” This second film was a breakout role for lead actress Florence Pugh and is filled with culturally resonant images and feminist themes that continue to spark conversation nearly a decade on. In many aspects, “Hereditary” and “Midsommar” seem like companion films, and together they stand as some of the most compelling examples of emotionally complex horror filmmaking.

Four years on, when Aster unveiled a third movie titled “Beau Is Afraid“, there was immense anticipation for what seemed like another intricate horror triumph. However, instead of the anticipated masterpiece, viewers were presented with a three-hour journey into surrealism that drew mixed reactions and underperformed at the box office. Though many continue to laud “Beau Is Afraid” for its distinctive qualities, its departure from Aster’s typical style undoubtedly altered our perception of what constitutes an “Aster Film”. Now, with “Eddington“, it appears Aster is set to challenge our expectations once more.

Who Stars in ‘Eddington’?

The ensemble for the movie Eddington features Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, Emma Stone, Austin Butler, Luke Grimes, Deirdre O’Connell, Clifton Collins Jr., Amélie Hoeferle, Michael Ward, and others. It’s worth noting that this project represents the second collaboration between Phoenix and director Aster, hinting at a potential deep bond similar to those often observed in the film industry between directors and actors. When asked about working with Phoenix, Aster expressed, “I can hardly envision crafting a film without him.

What Did We Learn From the ‘Eddington’ Trailer?

In just a short minute, the teaser trailer for the upcoming Western film titled Eddington has left us with much to dissect and anticipate. Notably, this is a fresh genre venture by the director Aster. The story unfolds in the imaginary town of Eddington, New Mexico, where the central conflict revolves around the local sheriff portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix, who’s embroiled in a power struggle with the mayor, played by Pedro Pascal. This drama unfolds amidst the tense and politically charged atmosphere of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

As stated by A24, “neighbor will face off against neighbor.” However, on IMDb, the film Eddington is categorized under genres such as “Contemporary Western,” “Dark Comedy,” and “Drama.” This indicates that unlike some of Aster’s other productions, this film might delve into and combine various emotional tones. Furthermore, it might not be a horror movie at all.

In the trailer, Phoenix’s character is shown lying in bed, swiping aimlessly on his phone. Initially, he comes across a clip of himself as the Sheriff discussing how the residents of Eddington are fond of firearms. Subsequently, he lands on a video featuring Austin Butler, who seems to be a televangelist or preacher, delivering a sermon about their mutual suffering not being a mere coincidence. A further scroll reveals Emma Stone, speaking directly into the camera as if she were a YouTuber, refuting her husband’s declaration made the previous day, which was untrue.

Phoenix proceeds to watch additional videos, such as the amusing TikTok dance titled “After Finishing Giovanni’s Room,” which carries the caption 1 Like=1 ACAB. Pascal is depicted as mayor in one of these videos, vowing to maintain Eddington secure during the pandemic. Lastly, there’s a video featuring Phoenix again, under the headline “‘Law and Order’ Sheriff Attacks Protestor in Town Plagued by Murders.” Given these hints, it can be inferred that Eddington will likely explore contemporary social issues in a radical and political manner, which is a departure from Aster’s previous work.

‘Eddington’ Shows Another New Side of Ari Aster

Aster was responsible for writing, producing, and directing Eddington, just as he did with all his other three feature films. However, it’s challenging to predict what Eddington will offer, as it seems to lean more towards thriller than Beau Is Afraid, but less horror-like than Hereditary or Midsommar. It appears that it might be more satirical and focused on current events compared to Aster’s previous works. While some, including me, yearn for “early Aster,” there’s also an exciting anticipation of where such a creative mind, unafraid of boundaries, might take us, especially given the subject matter and with such a skilled cast involved.

Indeed, it’s quite intriguing to ponder over what they might be secretly working on. We eagerly anticipate updates about Eddington‘s performance at Cannes in May, but until then, we can’t help but wonder about the mysterious projects brewing in Aster’s unique and twisted mind.

Eddington is set to receive a mainstream release on July 18, 2025.

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2025-04-18 03:02