Beau is Afraid is hard to "grade". I can see why reviewers were so conflicted.
The ones who outright dismissed the film are just poor critics though.
It's possible that there isn't a film more psychologically triggering. At least, for those of us with childhood traumas who experienced cold/strict parents. But also people with general anxiety.
It's incredible how Aster managers to expose a person's deepest feelings of vulnerability and discomfort right from the opening minutes, and adds a layer of comedy to that. A frighteningly realistic visualization of a paranoid/anxious mind.
You'll probably hate the experience, but you can't deny that it is riveting. It's more art than entertainment, but entertainment can be found throughout. Ari Aster is a mad man, and I love that A24 lets him flesh out his projects in all their insane glory.
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