Ari Aster’s upcoming film,Eddington, has received a more detailed plot synopsis, teasing a chilling and darkly comedic Western noir from A24. The film, which stars Emma Stone, Pedro Pascal, Joaquin Phoenix, and Austin Butler, was previously described in vague terms, with early reports stating that it would follow a small-town New Mexico sheriff with higher aspirations. Now, new detailsaboutEddington’s storyhave emerged, revealing a far more unsettling premise set against the backdrop of a desolate desert town.
According toVariety,Eddingtonwill center on a couple stranded in a seemingly welcoming desert town, only to discover that something far moresinister unfolds after nightfall. Joaquin Phoenix is set to portray the town’s sheriff, an ambitious lawman with his sights set on the mayor’s office.
What Eddington’s New Plot Details Mean
A Haunting Western Noir Unlike Anything Aster Has Done Before
While Aster has become synonymous with psychological horror,Eddingtonrepresents his boldest genre experiment yet. Unlike his previous work in the occult-focusedHereditaryand the folkloricMidsommar,this film leans into the Western genre and dark comedywith elements of political drama. This marksJoaquin Phoenix’s second filmwith Aster afterBeau is Afraid, which branched the director into a more surrealist—yet polarizing—take on tragedy, horror, and comedy. While A24 has produced Western films before, likeSlow West, this marks the studio’s first real foray into Western horror.
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Rumored reports have also stated thatthe small town will be set during a pandemic. Phoenix’s Sheriff Joe Cross and Pascal’s Mayor Garcia appear to be at the heart of a rivalry fueled by ambition and polarization when Joe is spurned to run for mayor of Eddington after he refuses to wear a face mask. Its rural isolation, paranoia, and clash between ambition and power are set to offer compelling tension asAri Aster’s latest movietackles the American culture war of recent years.
EddingtonHas Huge Potential
Aster has a penchant for slow-burning dread and with a powerhouse cast including Phoenix, Stone, and Pascal,Eddingtonis shaping up to be one of A24’s most intriguing projects yet. Phoenix and Aster previously collaborated onBeau Is Afraid, but this time,the director has an even more ambitious and genre-defying film on his hands. While the Phoenix-led film received mixed reviews, it’ll be interesting to see if Aster can successfully deliver a Wester noir withEddington,and handle its unpredictable mix of genres and political sentiment.
