A24’s Beau is Afraid is helmed by Ari Aster and marks Joaquin Phoenix’s return to the big screen. While Beau Is Afraid may represent a subtle change from Aster’s prior horror films, Hereditary and Midsommar, its trailer makes it clear that audiences will get plenty of surprises with this new film. Despite its hype, fans who have been eagerly awaiting the movie haven’t been surprised by its rating. The movie was given an R for strong violent content, sexual content, graphic nudity, drug use, and language.

Based on the trailer, we can expect to see a mixed bag of scary and fantasy content in a story that revolves around a family in various timelines. In addition, we will probably still see Aster’s typical graphic and gory scenes that make his movies so unique and memorable.

A Movie That Suggests Fear and Misery

     A24

The story behind Beau is Afraid revolves around a middle-aged man named Beau (Joaquin Phoenix) with an emotionally complicated relationship with his mom. His plans to visit her are thrown off when he is involved in a car accident. Then we see Beau travel through time in a mixture of live-action and unique backdrops. In addition, it’s fascinating to see two different versions of Phoenix: one as an adult and the other as a child.

There is no doubt that Beau is Afraid brings a different type of film to the table compared to Hereditary and Midsommar. However, it offers an interesting look at what can happen when family dynamics turn horribly wrong.

It is no surprise that Aster is collaborating with Midsommar and Hereditary’s cinematographer Pawel Pogorzelski and film editor Lucian Johnston on this upcoming flick. Like his previous two features, Aster worked on Beau Is Afraid’s script.

Along with Phoenix, the film also stars an impressive cast that includes Nathan Lane (The Birdcage), Amy Ryan (The Office), Pattie LuPone (American Horror Story), Parker Posey (Dazed and Confused), Kylie Rogers (Home Before Dark), Denis Ménochet (The French Dispatch), Stephen McKinley Henderson (Dune), Michael Gandolfini (The Many Saints of Newark), Hayley Squires (In the Earth), and Zoe Lister-Jones (Life in Pieces).

The premiere of Beau Is Afraid will take place on April 21. Meanwhile, you can check out the trailer, released courtesy of A24, below: