Yorgos Lanthimos’ The Lobster is about the dangers of a society obsessed with compatibility. Despite its tense tone, Lanthimos manages to make it refreshing with dark humor. David (Colin Farrell) navigates the aftermath of a marital affair in a society which requires everyone to find a compatible partner, or be turned into an animal. On this journey he comes across The Short-Sighted Woman (Rachel Weisz) and together they rebel against the pressures of society.
Although The Lobster can be hard to watch, those familiar with Lanthimos’ body of work will find his penchant for dark humor similar to recent works of his, such as The Favourite. Lanthimos excels at constructing the dystopian universe housed within the film, creating an atmosphere of constant fear and desperation through its characters. Colin Farrell is unrecognizable in his role as a divorced husband in unfamiliar territory, while Rachel Weisz serves as a stoic narrator for the first half of the film. The remainder of the cast does well to present the idea that this is an unpleasant society to live in.
Throughout the film, unpleasant moments are played for humor. For instance, in one scene, David is forced to wear what is essentially a chastity belt to prevent masturbation. His frustration is dreadful to watch but in these moments absurdist humor prevails. The contrast of a frightening society with ironic, humorous situations is something Lanthimos does to a masterful degree throughout. Unfortunately, the film is not always pleasant to watch. Witnessing The Lisping Man (John C. Reilly) place his hand in a toaster as punishment for masturbating is disturbing. Moments like these reflect Lanthimos’ work in terms of how intense he can be with subjects on the screen, although this does little to take away from the overall viewing experience.
Cinematographer Thimios Bakatakis keeps the dystopian tone through his dim, moody shots. In one scene, a still shot of a dead forest is animated by the immediate scattering of Loners, a group that inverts society’s norms by rejecting all forms of intimacy. Combined with the constant clashing of a dramatic violin lead score, the film engrosses you in it’s dystopian atmosphere. Later, shots of the city and the surrounding countryside gives a sense of emptiness shared with the film’s characters.
The Lobster is a masterful satire where Lanthimos explores the dangers of a society that regulates dating. While it might not be an easy film to watch, its dark comedy reminds you not to take it too seriously.
Frankie Dauphin is a modern day film buff. That means he owns Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime.