The Surfer: Nicolas Cage Shines in A Divisive Psychological Thriller

The latest from director Lorcan Finnegan, The Surfer premiered in the Midnight Screenings section of last year’s Cannes Film Festival. The story follows an American man known only as The Surfer (Cage), who returns to the idyllic Australian beach of his childhood to surf with his son. However, before even making it to the shoreline, he’s humiliated and tormented by a group of locals, led by the malevolent Scally (Julian McMahon). Not willing to let the incident go, The Surfer decides to stay at the beach and gets drawn into a conflict that only keeps rising, further pushing him to his absolute breaking point. Now the film is far from what audiences would typically expect from a film with a premise such as this one, or one that starring Nicolas Cage as a wronged man seeking vengeance, a fact that will either delight or undeniably frustrate. That being said, no matter where one might land on it, there’s no denying how fascinating and entertaining it is as a whole.

There isn’t a dull moment to be had here. Just when someone may think they have the film figured out and think they know what direction it is about to head in going from scene to scene, it will do something unexpected and confuse audiences even more which was the point. The film is designed to be a frustrating and maddening watch (audiences’ tolerance will vary), but it does a great job at placing audiences inside The Surfer’s head as if they were experiencing the situation right with him. As the film goes on, they will undeniably feel like they are losing their mind with him, while never being truly sure what is real and what is not. It is a truly surreal experience that doesn’t offer up any easy or straightforward answers and instead favoring a highly ambiguous approach until the very end. Meanwhile, the film also makes great use of its limited setting, keeping things engaging throughout. In the end, it will be the type of film that will have audiences talking as they wonder what it all means.

On the technical side, The Surfer is a very well made film, arguably one of the most competently directed films where Cage has starred in recent memory. Firstly, the cinematography is absolutely gorgeous. As the camera zooms in, it is given a kind of 1970s type feel that was not only welcome but it also what it was clearly trying to evoke. François Tétaz’s score is great, and Tony Cranstoun editing is a major highlight. Cage continues to be one of the most fascinating and versatile actors of his generation, and despite being a different film for him, he still delivers a brilliant performance as The Surfer. A lot more subtle than what many might expect, Cage is still afforded moments where he gets to show off his trademark on screen craziness. McMahon is also terrific as Scally, making for a fascinating villain who is a lot more fleshed out than the norm.

Despite the fact that there is never a dull moment here, the film still could have been better served had a few minutes been trimmed off its runtime if only to help alleviate a dragging middle act, something which is never a good sign for a relatively short, mostly single location film. A film that will undeniably be an acquired taste, it can become grueling to watch as it doesn’t give audiences the kind of answers they are looking for, and is designed to get under audiences’ skin from the get-go. Ultimately, patience will vary depend on individual audiences, as their reactions are sure to be divisive. Not quite falling into the designated genre boxes that its premise may suggest, those waiting to see Cage to go full on beast mode on these surfers will likely find themselves sorely disappointed.

At the end of the day, The Surfer is an effort that is bound to be divisive and not for everyone, but a terrific performance from Nicolas Cage, strong direction from Lorcan Finnegan, and loads of ambition make it a fascinating watch that will certainly stick with audiences, no matter their feelings about it.

Score: 74/100

*still courtesy of Roadside Attractions*

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Connor Carey

www.connorsmoviereviews.com/