‘Our Hero, Balthazar’ Review: Asa Butterfield and Jaeden Martell in an Unnerving Dark Comedy About American Gun Culture

by

Topics such as social media personas, firearm regulations, and the blue state/red state divide are among those explored in “Our Hero, Balthazar“, a thought-provoking dark comedy making its world debut at the Tribeca Film Festival. With moments that are both unsettlingly disturbing and uproariously funny, this film concludes with a twist that fittingly summarizes its bold message. This represents an impressive directorial debut for Oscar Boyson.

As a devoted admirer, it’s hardly shocking given the director’s past work. Known for co-writing scripts with Ricky Camilleri and crafting gritty films like “Good Time” and “Uncut Gems,” I wasn’t taken aback to find this latest project aligning with that style. Titled as a clever nod to Robert Bresson’s iconic film, “Au Hasard Balthazar,” it continues the tradition of the Safdie brothers’ films that intentionally leave you on edge.

The main character, brilliantly portrayed by Jaeden Martell (known for his roles in ‘It’ and ‘Knives Out’), is a typical wealthy Manhattan youth with a doting mother (Jennifer Ehle), a personal life coach (Noah Centineo), and an exclusive private school education. He doesn’t care much about social issues, but a classmate, Eleanor (Pippa Knowles), captures his attention instead. Their friendship blossoms when they both participate in a mass shooting simulation at their school, both covered in mock blood.

Eleanor’s deep passion lies in gun safety, so to win her over, Balthazar, or Balthy for short, starts arranging protests and sharing heartfelt videos about the issue online, showcasing his acting talents. However, Eleanor soon discovers that he isn’t truly passionate about it.

“Are you actually crying?” she asks him after watching one of his tearful videos.  

“I think it’s nice to be part of a community,” he says.

Balthy’s online posts catch the attention of a young man residing in Texas, who antagonizes him and discloses his plans for a mass shooting at his school. The movie then creatively transitions to present us with Balthy’s online harasser, Solomon, a struggling supplement salesman who can’t even manage to sell the guns his father provided due to their missing serial numbers. He’s a disillusioned young man who feebly denies being an incel. Asa Butterfield, recognized from films such as ‘Hugo’ and ‘Sex Education,’ delivers a remarkable performance in this role, almost unrecognizable with his blond hair and goatee, offering a striking portrayal.

Trusting that Solomon would follow through on his warning, Balthy spur-of-the-moment journeys to Texas, where he forms a real-life bond with him. In an unfamiliar environment, Balthy appears as if he’s a fish out of water. Despite their apparent disparities, the two share an unusual connection; Solomon instructs the city-dweller in handling firearms and says, “You might be the first individual I’ve encountered who’s more peculiar than me.

Balthy encounters Becky Ann Baker, who is lovingly ailing yet not physically well, and Chris Bauer, who turns out to be abusive, as Solomon’s father and grandmother respectively. He soon realizes that Solomon isn’t the dangerous figure he portrayed himself to be, exclaiming in disbelief, “I thought you were a school shooter!” However, events spiral into a more sinister direction marked by violence, leading to an unexpectedly ironic conclusion and unfortunate outcome.

The Director, Boyson, skillfully weaves together satirical observations about society with genuine emotions and intricate character development, giving the story a dry, dark humor reminiscent of Hal Ashby’s style. By reflecting the apprehensions of a generation deeply immersed in online culture, who often struggle to distinguish fantasy from reality, Our Hero, Balthazar is undoubtedly a film that resonates with the current times.

Read More

2025-06-10 02:54