The Art of Self-Defense 2019

★★★★½

 Watched 12 Oct, 2019

I don’t know whether to call this a comedy, a horror movie, a drama or a thriller because somehow it is all of those things. This is one of the movies I wanted to catch from 2019’s festival circuit, so when I heard it was out on digital I watched it immediately. The movie feels as if Yorgos Lanthimos directed Fight Club as a comedy. And that shouldn’t work, but it does. It’s hilarious at moments and downright disturbing in others. It’s a very off-beat movie with dry and dark humour and it really isn’t for everyone. Jesse Eisenberg is phenomenal as he steals the show in every scene he’s in. The plot and events of the movie are exciting and the dialogue and themes are extremely witty and yet slightly unsettling. My only complaint is that sometimes the movie chooses style over substance and cheapens the tension and dramatic moments, but this happens very rarely. If you’re looking for an incredibly unique movie that can make you laugh and shuffle in your seat, The Art of Self Defense is for you.