Dark, dangerous and deeply unsettling, Suburbicon is a slick satire on American suburbia

Dark, dangerous and deeply unsettling, Suburbicon is a slick satire on American suburbia

Last Updated: 25 Oct 2017
Jen Bowden
George Clooney’s latest movie plunges the depths of the American dream with this unsettling mix of satire, hammer horror and thriller.
Gardner Lodge (Matt Damon), his wife Rose (Julianne Moore) and son Nicky (Noah Jupe) live in the peaceful, perfect world of Suburbicon, an all-American, suburb. Set in the late 50’s this place is Stepford Wives stuff, with lush green lawns, identical picket-fence houses and perfect families by the bucketload.

But one night he and his family are shaken to the core after a group of men invade their home and leave a trail of devastation in their wake. Gardener, Nicky and Rose’s sister Margaret (also Julianne Moore) must figure out how to rebuild their lives. But as little Nicky discovers, things aren’t as clear cut as they might seem.

With a screenplay by the Coen brothers and directed by George Clooney, you just know that Suburbicon already has clout even before the opening credits have rolled. Matt Damon and Julianne Moore both put in effortless performances as the too-perfect-to-be-true grownups, but it’s Noah Jupe as Nicky who really steals the show. His journey from innocence to the horror of experience hooks you in from the start and before long you’re rooting for him as he gets more deeply involved with the sinister happenings in his neighbourhood.

Don’t let the hazy, idyllic cinematography fool you, Suburbicon is a dark, dark film. It’s got everything – murder, violence, lust, sex, racism, fraud, greed – all the deadly sins and more lurking underneath the perfect façade.

Suburbicon is the perfect movie for Halloween season, it’s dark, dangerous and will leave you feeling very much on edge. Miss it at your peril.

Suburbicon is on general release from October 26.

Photo: Hilary Bronwyn Gayle

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