Eddington (2025) Review: Ari Aster’s Most Terrifying Film Isn’t Actually Horror
Ari Aster has once again surprised viewers, but this time by stepping away from horror completely. Eddington brings together a powerhouse cast including Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, and Emma Stone in what feels like his most personal project yet. This isn’t your typical thriller – it’s a raw look at how quickly communities can fall apart.
The movie digs deep into pandemic-era America, specifically May 2020 when tensions reached breaking point. Aster chose to set his story in a fictional New Mexico town where political differences tear neighbors apart. At nearly two and a half hours, this film demands your attention and patience.
##The Story That Hits Close to Home
Picture a small town where everyone knows everyone – until they don’t anymore. A local sheriff and mayor clash over COVID restrictions, and suddenly the whole community picks sides. The story unfolds like watching your own neighborhood during those tense months of 2020.
What makes this narrative compelling is how ordinary disagreements escalate into something dangerous. Aster doesn’t take sides politically – instead, he shows how fear and uncertainty can poison relationships. The conflict feels uncomfortably real because many of us lived through similar divisions.
The director builds tension slowly, letting small arguments snowball into major confrontations. Each scene adds another layer to the community’s breakdown. You can feel the anxiety building as former friends become enemies over mask mandates and lockdown orders.
##Standout Acting Across the Board
Phoenix brings his A-game as the conflicted sheriff caught between duty and community pressure. His performance captures that exhausting feeling of trying to keep peace when everyone wants to fight. The actor’s intensity works perfectly for this role.
Pedro Pascal shows remarkable range playing against type in several key scenes. His chemistry with Phoenix creates genuine emotional moments throughout the film. Their relationship becomes the heart of the story, showing how personal bonds can survive political storms.
Emma Stone delivers subtlety in a role that could have easily become one-dimensional. The supporting cast, including Austin Butler and Luke Grimes, creates a believable small-town atmosphere. Every character feels like someone you might actually know.
I particularly appreciated how each actor avoided stereotypes in their portrayals. Nobody plays the obvious villain or hero – they’re all just people making difficult choices under pressure.
##Aster’s Bold Direction
This director has always pushed boundaries, but Eddington feels like his most mature work. Aster trades jump scares for psychological realism, creating tension through everyday situations. His camera work captures the isolation people felt during lockdowns.
The New Mexico landscapes become almost another character, emphasizing how distance between people can grow even in tight communities. Aster uses wide shots effectively to show characters becoming emotionally isolated from each other.
The pacing allows emotions to breathe while maintaining narrative momentum. Unlike his horror films, this one builds dread through recognizable human conflicts rather than supernatural elements. It’s scarier because it feels possible.
##What Really Works
The film’s biggest strength is its honesty about that difficult period in recent history. Aster doesn’t offer easy solutions or clear villains – just flawed people responding to unprecedented circumstances. This approach makes the story more powerful than typical political dramas.
I found myself recognizing behaviors and arguments from real life, which made the viewing experience both engaging and uncomfortable. The movie captures how quickly social media rumors can spread and destroy trust between neighbors.
Every performance feels grounded in reality rather than theatrical overacting. The dialogue sounds natural, avoiding the preachy tone that often ruins films about current events. Aster lets the story speak for itself.
##Where It Falls Short
The runtime becomes problematic during the middle section where certain scenes drag without advancing the plot significantly. Some sequences feel indulgent rather than necessary for the story’s development.
Tonal shifts can feel jarring when the film moves between dark comedy and serious drama. While Aster clearly intended this approach, it sometimes disconnects viewers from the emotional core of scenes.
I noticed that some thematic elements get repeated without adding new insights. The film occasionally feels like it’s making the same point multiple times through different character interactions.
##How Critics and Audiences Responded
Professional reviews have been mixed but generally positive with most praising the performances and direction. The film currently holds a 6.7 rating on popular movie sites, suggesting audiences appreciate the ambition even if execution varies.
Many critics highlighted Phoenix and Pascal’s chemistry as the film’s strongest element. However, some reviewers found the length challenging and questioned whether all scenes serve the larger narrative effectively.
Audience reactions vary significantly depending on political perspectives and pandemic experiences. Some viewers found it too close to recent events, while others appreciated the honest examination of that period.
##My Final Thoughts
Eddington succeeds as a time capsule of one of America’s most divisive periods. While not perfect, it captures something essential about how communities can fracture under pressure. Aster deserves credit for tackling such recent and sensitive material.
I believe this film will be more appreciated years from now when we have more distance from 2020’s events. The performances alone make it worth watching, particularly Phoenix’s complex portrayal of authority under stress.
This isn’t comfort food cinema – it’s challenging, sometimes uncomfortable, but ultimately rewarding. Aster has created something unique that feels both timely and timeless in its examination of human nature.
Rating: 3.5/5