Stephen King Praises Shocking New A24 Thriller as “Terrific, all muscle and no fat”
Mary Beth McAndrews
|
Chances are that if you spend any time on Twitter, you’ve seen the discourse surrounding A24 and Alex Garland’s latest collaboration, Civil War. It’s loved by some and hated by others, with seemingly no middle ground about Garland’s attempt to look at war through the eyes (and lenses) of photojournalists. But it looks like horror heavyweight Stephen King is on the positive side of the Civil War fence, heading to Twitter to sing its praises.
The film involves “a race to the White House in a near-future America balanced on the razor’s edge”, at least according to A24’s official synopsis. It also features a star-studded cast, including Kirsten Dunst, Cailee Spaeny, Wagner Moura, Stephen McKinley Henderson, and Nick Offerman.
Read Stephen King’s full reaction below:
Dread Central’s Drew Tinnin agreed with King’s statement in his review out of SXSW, where the film had its world premiere. Tinnin wrote,
“Those debating whether to take the plunge and take a chance on A24’s most ambitious offering to date shouldn’t stray. Oddly, Civil War operates on a more therapeutic frequency. Where the real-world events that inspired the film can be triggering, Garland’s deft hand uses stark images of an America on the brink to bring about a strange level of catharsis. That’s no easy feat.”
Garland is no stranger to controversy around his films. While he charmed audiences with his unique takes on sci-fi in his films Ex Machina and Annihilation, his 2022 film Men was his first step in wading into controversial waters as a director. Now with Civil War, he’s only cemented his place as a director who has pivoted into confronting (regardless if you find it successful or not) cinema.
But what did the rest of Twitter think of the film? Check out a few reactions below:
No matter what, it seems the film is hitting a nerve, especially when it comes to depicting a terrifying near-future that doesn’t seem so far-fetched with each passing day.
Civil War is out now in theaters.
Have you checked out the latest from Garland? Do you agree with Stephen King’s assessment of the film? Let us know over on Twitter or Instagram @DreadCentral!
Categorized:News
