Becoming The Muse

Kinds Of Kindness Movie Review

Kinds Of Kindnes is a unique film directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, known for his distinctive style and dark humor. Emma Stone and Willem Dafoe once again team up with the director of Poor Things to make magic. It was released theatrically in the United States by Searchlight Pictures on 21 June 2024.

The movie is mosaic exploration different facets of human behaviour, from love and control to obsession, the premise is not easy to summarise without giving it away as it’s a cinematic box of assorted chocolates and you never know what you are going to get.

The Good

One of the reasons I had marked this a to-watch was because after my review of the movie Abigail where I had cited how the trailer spoiled the movie’s biggest plot twist, M had pointed out this movie’s trailer as an example of those that did not offer enough information. While the trailer for Kinds Of Kindness hardly explains the wild ride you will go on, if you have seen other productions from the cast—you kinda know it’s a trippy reflection into the human condition.

Jesse Plemons, Emma Stone and Willem Dafoe are more than upto the challenge of bringing to life the weirdly twisted ideas that reside in the dark recesses of Yorgos’s mind. I am also beginning to think part of Emma Stone’s contract comes with a clause to showcase some very interesting dance moves.

The cinematography lands a vibrancy to the grim atmosphere, transforming New Orleans, Lousiana into surreal scape one wont recognise from reality.

The Bad

Kinds Of Kindness has a close to 3 hour run time, and you feel the ticking. The movie has erratic pacing with a slow burn build up to shocking plot twist and a jarring feeling of watching a connected but independent cinematic universe whose meaning is just beyond comprehension….

Leaving you to ask, what did I just watch? and search the internet for closure.

The Ugly

The unconventional nature of the movie’s structure coupled with the dark humour and graphic content with some disturbing themes, make the movie an uncomfortable watch that is not everyone’s cup of tea.

The film ironically captures of kindness or rather the absence of kindness in ways that reveal humanity’s raw, sometimes disturbing side…

Final Thoughts

Kinds Of Kindness is a thought-provoking film that showcases the cast’s talent in carrying out the unapologetic creative vision of Yorgos Lanthimos. You will either hate it or love it but it wont leave you indifferent.

Have you watched any movies directed by Yorgos Lanthimos. Have you or would you watch this?

~B