‘Hurry Up Tomorrow’ Review: Abel Tesfaye Suffers Through Trey Edward Shults’ Dreadful Musical Drama, as Does the Audience

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Just like many other Americans, I once nurtured dreams of becoming a rock star in my youthful years. My ambitions didn’t extend beyond perfecting the art of air guitar, but looking back, it might have been a blessing. You see, if ‘Hurry Up Tomorrow’, the latest drama co-written and acted by Abel Tesfaye, aka The Weeknd, is anything to go by, being a globally renowned music sensation is far from appealing. Apparently, you can barely make it through a day without shedding tears – something he does so frequently in this movie that you start worrying about his water intake.

Towards the end of the movie, there’s a sequence where the character Tesfaye, portraying himself as usual in this kind of film, is bound on a bed as Jenna Ortega, playing an obsessive fan, dances to his music and interprets its symbolism. Silenced and powerless, he can only endure the ordeal with obvious discomfort. This scene mirrors the feeling of watching this film by Trey Edward Shults (known for “Waves” and “It Comes at Night”), which is a rather dull and demanding experience that might only be enjoyed by Tesfaye’s most devoted followers.

In this movie, the opening credits last for nearly half an hour and are excessively pompous. They follow a warning about flashing effects, a brief music video, and an advertisement for The Weeknd’s new album, whose title this film seems to be primarily promoting.

The story often delves into the realms of the bizarre and is heavily laden with symbolism, primarily revolving around a protagonist grappling with existential turmoil following a breakup with his girlfriend (portrayed by Riley Keough). We hear numerous voicemails from her, but his attempts to win her back are fruitless. This heartache has taken a toll on his voice, prompting a doctor’s suggestion for prolonged vocal rest. However, Lee, Tesfaye’s constant companion and manager, advocates for using mood-altering substances whenever needed, which our character is not pleased about.

The secondary protagonist in the peculiar storyline is Anima (Ortega), initially spotted torching a secluded house amidst a frosty backdrop. She’s revealed to be an ardent admirer of The Weeknd, and they share a significant glance when she’s among his audience at a packed arena concert. Somehow, she manages to gain backstage access, resulting in them spending a jovial evening out together, including a trip to an amusement park (roller coasters seem to be just the remedy for a pop star’s worries) and ending up in his hotel room. However, things take a turn for the worse from there, as it seems Anima may have taken inspiration from the movie ‘Misery’ a bit too literally.

Throughout our journey, we notice Tesfaye shedding tears aboard his private plane, in his bathroom, and repeatedly in his hotel room, while also frequently using an inhaler. At one instance, Anima weeps as she listens to a preview of his latest song. It all appears quite intense. Indeed, there are many emotional Weeknd songs, but the movie wouldn’t be here if perhaps some antidepressants had been recommended more often.

Shults demonstrates a knack for filmmaking, skillfully creating an eerie atmosphere with eerie visuals, though some of them lean towards cliché (as Tesfaye navigates a deserted cityscape, one might expect the sudden appearance of zombies). However, the script, co-written by Tesfaye, Shults and Reza Fahim, lacks humor and self-awareness to such an extent that it makes films like Renaldo and Clara, Under the Cherry Moon, and Give My Regards to Broad Street appear almost brilliant in comparison.

As an actor, Tesfaye excels at singing roles, with the movie showcasing numerous close-ups of his expressive, tormented visage that would make Garbo envious. Ortega and Keoghan give their best, infusing their underdeveloped characters with palpable intensity. However, their dedicated performances fail to elevate Hurry Up Tomorrow beyond a self-indulgent platform for its lead actor. Following this film and the short-lived series The Idol, it may be time for some professional guidance in his career.

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2025-05-16 01:26