Yorgos Lanthimos’s (The Favorite) first film after 2023’s critical hit Poor Things, is Kinds of Kindness starring Jesse Plemons (Game Night) and Emma Stone (Poor Things). It is an absurdist black comedy consisting of three segments with actors taking on multiple roles throughout the film. The stories are thematically connected but otherwise unrelated. It also stars Hong Chau (The Menu), Margaret Qualley (Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood), and Willem Dafoe (Spider-Man). Kinds of Kindness was co-written by Lanthimos and Efthimis Filippou (The Killing of a Sacred Deer).
The first segment of Kinds of Kindness is entitled “The Death of R.M.F”. It follows Robert (Plemons), a man whose every move is laid out by his boss Raymond (Dafoe). But, when Robert refuses to kill somebody, their arrangement falls apart. “R.M.F. is Flying” is the second segment, and it follows a couple called Daniel (Plemons) and Liz (Stone). Daniel suspects Liz isn’t his wife after she goes missing. The final segment is called “R.M.F. Eats a Sandwich” and it follows Emily (Stone), who tries to find a woman who can revive the dead to please the head of a sex cult, a man named Omi (Dafoe).
Kinds of Kindness in Parts
The stories of each segment are interesting. The first has an interesting premise with twists that push the premise to its appropriate limit. The second is the only one that feels as if it gets weird just to get weird, whereas the last is supremely interesting because you’re watching individuals who live outside of the normalcy of society try and find someone supernatural. Having three shorter segments manages to curb a common issue I have with Lanthimos’s films, as in Kinds of Kindness all three endings land, and the stories don’t fall apart at the end.
Jesse Plemons is fantastic, being awkward and frustrated, then paranoid, and finally quietly unnerving. Stone is great, too, standing out more in the second and third segments. She has her turn to get unnerving, too, and she nails it. Some elements of her performance bordered into horrifying. There isn’t a single performance in the film that isn’t great, with Chau, Qualley, and Dafoe all delivering. Everyone feels like they’re playing distinct characters with their own lives and personalities, even though they don’t look too different physically. But, you shouldn’t get too attached, because you won’t see them for long.
While the three-story structure makes the film feel a little bloated at times – specifically during the second segment – it rarely slows down. Kinds of Kindness is like a train trip where the train speeds to its destination, and you’re not quite sure where you’ll end up. But even though there are a few bumps along the way, you’ll probably enjoy the ride and, ultimately, love the trip. The black comedy lands hard, with the absurdist elements of the story cutting through some of the more dramatic or intense moments.
All About the Vibes
Kinds of Kindness isn’t for everybody. People will watch this and get uncomfortable. There are depictions of suicide, sexual assault, and animal cruelty. Yet, it’s a deeply funny movie, full of awkward moments, weird characters, and perfect deliveries. If you can stomach some of the more intense content, Kinds of Kindness is one of the darkest comedies to come along in a while. Understandably, the movie goes too far, but all of the darker content has a point, whether it moves the story along, or shocks you enough that you laugh at Emma Stone dancing in a parking lot.
The movie begins by thumping “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” by Eurythmics, and that sums up the ride Kinds of Kindness takes you on. It has a terrific soundtrack, which works alongside the immaculate design to have a bit of an edge. Whether it’s Stone zooming around in a purple Dodge Challenger or Dafoe’s – impressive – casual look in the last segment, the movie oozes a particular cool amongst the weirdness. One that makes it all the more funny.
Ultimately, if you can stomach content that some might deem “messed up” and you like a good black comedy, you should love Kinds of Kindness. It is a superbly acted, funny film, that is impeccably crafted and pushes the audience tremendously. If you’re in the target audience you should go to the theater as soon as you can, because it will probably be a unique theatrical experience.
You can watch Kinds of Kindness in theaters on June 21, 2024.
Kinds of Kindness
Kinds of Kindness might test your limits, but it’s still a terrific black comedy with brilliant performances, great writing, and a fabulous style.
Pros
- Great absurd performances from a stacked but small cast.
- Well-written stories with good premises.
- Consistently hilarious.
Cons
- Filled with dark content that might turn away some audience members.
- Well-paced but the three-story structure makes it difficult to connect with the characters.
