MEN Ending Explained | Why I LOVE Alex Garland's New A24 Film 

Here are my thoughts and interpretation: So Harper is clearly going to this rental property to have a short getaway after the death of her husband. During the fight scene flashbacks she is both physically and psychologically abused (threats of suicide and trying to read her messages without her consent assuming she is saying bad things about him). In those scenes she expressed that she doesn't feel like she is able to live her life and be happy because of the toxicity of their relationship and his abuse. Being married to him is about him exerting control over her and keeping her for his own needs rather than a willing union of love between them. As she enters the home she takes a bite of the apple (the forbidden fruit) symbolic of the knowledge of good and evil, also symbolic of knowing the "truth" or the true "nature" of something. The house itself is covered in red walls and surrounded by lush nature, trees, flowers and woods. The house is symbolic imagery of a womb (a safe place away from the outside world, feminine, healing energy). The world around her and the nature and trees are symbolic of life and living and being in the world itself. I feel like this represents the dichotomy of the two statues we see represented throughout the film. The green man statue is the nature of masculinity, also in paganism was a symbol of spring and rebirth of nature. The red, or possibly blood, color representative of the nature of femininity with the woman statue, as she is the rebirth of humanity. In the Bible the book of Genesis states that Adam is Hebrew for human and Eve is Hebrew for Life. I'll touch on the ending and how that makes sense later. I feel like as she explored the surrounding forest and arrives at the tunnel she is expressing her own free will. She is exercising freedom to roam and explore. But she is a woman and in a patriarchal society, that is not allowed. That's not conforming to the control of men. She enters the cave, heavily evoking to symbolism of a vaginal canal and from that canal a figure is born, he is naked and instinctual and begins chasing her as nature's punishment for her embodiment of freedom. He is seeking to control her again by invoking fear in her for trying to be free. This ties back to the moment when she asked for a divorce from her husband in effort to reclaim hehe freedom and he punished her for it by threatening to kill himself and by punching her in the face and at the end of the film when she asks him what he wants he says "your love" as in he wants her to stay married to him so he can keep controlling her. As she begins to interact w the other men and the boy in the town, while she doesn't seem to notice that they are all the same man, we are able to see that this form of manipulative, gaslighting, controlling, dismissive, repressive and violent nature is present to some extent in every man she encounters. The only people who seem to believe her fear is valid is the female cop and her friend Riley. The men she encounters in the town continuously blame her and down play her experiences and even override her autonomy (even in nice ways like when the landlord won't let her pay for her own drink). We can also see how this negatively effects the men though when the landlord says his father called him a failed attempt at a military man when he was only 7 years old. As we enter the final act, she is terrorized in the house by loud noises banging on the outside walls, seeing the police man standing outside of her door staring at her, the bird flying through the window etc and it feels very evocative of the feeling of being penetrated or violated as the true nature of the patriarchal violence in the world begins to descend upon the womb space of the home. When the green man blows the dandelion at her (a symbol of blowing the dandelion and being promised that the one you love will love you back) one of the dandelion seeds enters her mouth. I feel like this represents her being in the green man's control again. I thought the imagery of the young boy with the bird and the women's mask on the face of the bird being pushed back and forth (looked very sexual) was particularly disturbing. Showing that these values of dominance and control and entitelment which he displayed throughout the film, were engrained within him from a young age. As the men penetrate into the home she does use very phallic ways of asserting her power. When the green man puts hand through the mail box (almost like a proposal) and then grabs her (his true intentions) she stabs him. Then when the priest tries to rape her she stabs him as well. The finale of the film show the Union of the green man and the female statue and the ways in which men in a patriarchal society have used the fertility of women and specifically the control of that fertility, to perpetuate the power structure from which they benefit. Patriarchy begets patriarchy. Every man in this film embodies these traits in various forms to varying degrees and that is passed on from generation to generation, and women are only involved in so far as a vessel, or a canal, through which to birth the next patriarch. Passing down the ideology over and over again until eventually we see her husband. In this moment Harper has finally gotten to a point where she has to face the true nature of the patriarchal values that were instilled within her husband and ultimately corrupted their marriage. He admits to her that he wanted her love (a thinly veiled manipulative way of trying to control her) and continues to blame her for his death. She seems to be at peace though in this scene. Not because she agrees or believes what he is saying, but because she can finally see the truth. She has eaten of the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil and can finally be set free from the illusion and now understands and accepts that his death is not her fault. She no longer has to be "haunted" by him. She found the healing she needed and conquered her past.

I believe the scene in which Harper stabs the guys arm through the mail slot represents how the possible suicide isn't her fault. She may have planted the knife and made her husband feel this way but ultimately he is the one that went through with it. He's the one that pulled the knife through willingly and took his own life and Harper shouldn't be the one to blame for his irrational actions. This is also why I believe that scene was drawn out so long. Great filmmaking. Great movie. Great message. Let me know what you guys think.

It’s nice to hear a bloke who’s not giving a scathing review on this movie. So it wasn’t perfect so what? It’s refreshing to see a movie made from a woman’s perspective and the frustrations women still experience today. Practically being called hysterical for worrying about a man stalking her. Also as a Brit this movie is relatable, I have met all of these men.

My first marriage was emotionally/psychologically abusive and my husband did try to kill himself after I left him. This movie felt so relatable and real to me. I was very scared of men for a long time after what I went through, but I was able to face my reality just like Harper.

Did you notice how when the Vicar first enters the bathroom with Harper, he says he is a swan? Wondering if that is alluding to the Greek myth where Zeus turns into a swan and rapes Leda. I could see similarities to Helen of Troy, men going to war and turning violent/unhinged all over a woman who basically has no agency. Weird too how Leda is also Jessie Buckley's character's name in The Lost Daughter.

She felt they had finally seen each other as he was falling, she was looking out and he was looking in. She went out there to heal and i think this movie is about the painful process of learning why your abuser is the way he is and that it’s not your fault despite what others say. The order of the birth showed how he became that way. From the not actually harmful natural state to selfish boy to self righteous and horny man to white knight nice guy to husband and so many other abusive men

I think Geoffrey giving birth to all the men was a really creative way to show how the issues this movie is addressing are multi generational.

Great review mate .I would like to point out something no one noticed .During the conversation with her friend ,while she was holding her phone the camera points on her tiny tattoo in her hand. This is a nordic rune called Berkana.The birch tree was a symbol of fertility in quite a few different myths from European folklore. Likewise, the shape of this rune implies a stylized female form. Berkana (also "Berkano") represents the universal idea of the Goddess and the powerful bond between mother and child. A powerful sense of nurturing, protection, support and creation are indicated by this rune. All of the feminine mysteries are contained in Berkana, as the traditionally male mysteries are contained in Uruz. As with Uruz, the gender-leaning of the rune does not necessarily mean that the rune applies strictly to a male or a female person -- and can also apply to a nuturing, supportive male. Either a pregnancy or a new start in a person's life is indicated here -- or the fertility of a new business venture. Berkana indicates a fresh perspective, a good start. Aside from a physical birth, a rebirth, or a burst of creativity may be indicated. Berkana frequently refers to domestic issues and personal relationships -- particularly those involving emotional support, nurturing and "standing by" loved ones. Berkana can also represent a person who is a healer, whether a nurse, doctor, or other kind of medical practitioner. The energies of this rune are healing and life-giving.

I really enjoyed this analysis thank you. I have a different interpretation of the birthing sequence though. There is a line from that Landlord shortly before this sequence that I think is key. He speaks about his father telling him he is a 'failed military man' at the age of 7. I think the birthing sequence shows us that toxic men 'birth' toxic men through how they raise them. So they aren't so much aspects of James in this sequence as progenitors; James is the result of the cycle putting all these toxic traits in to him. I think the Green Man is there to represent paganism and nature, and therefore the cycle of life (expressed also through the deer corpses). He shows this is an eternal cycle.

I'm curious to know what you all think about the apples falling from the tree all at once? I'm not sure what caused that to happen, but to me it was a very literal symbol of the apple not falling for from the tree. Another show that the toxic nature of these men is passed through generations.

Phew, the toxic comments abound here. We have a woman who is abused, stalked by a peeping tom, sexually assaulted, dismissed by police, and almost killed by a psychopath, and it's about society's refusal to see these events as anything other than HER fault. And y'all are kind of proving the movie's point.

Good thoughts. I relate with everything you said. I will also mention the fact that there’s a clear metaphor for adam and even in the garden of Eden. When eve partakes of the fruit she is fallen and blamed for the fall of men. It’s even mentioned as a joke early in the movie. Her mistake supposedly is the cause men suffer.

The Dandelion seed. It comes from a dead flower, gets deposited in the head of a dead deer. The concept that life and beauty can only come from death and decay. Maybe, the cycle of toxic masculinity for Harper died with the killing of James' birthed version and a new beginning can spring forth.

To me it was the kubler Ross 5 stages of grief. The colors too represent that. Red, green, blue, black. The priest explaines it is in "man's" primitive "nature" to keep coming back to the woman for lust and the slit vagina (finger in the bench, slit in the sky universe like a vagina, he's arm split like a vagina with her head through the slit) her husband said his death will haunt her forever. So whatever injury she inflicts on the man he keeps forever with each new man coming after her. The arm and leg injury from the knife and car crash. Was the same exact injury her husband sustained from his fall. The acceptance stage is the final stage of grief when she's on the couch with him

Really enjoying reading everyones comments and points. I like how the film plays on various pathetic male archetypes. One thing I noticed is that some of the men in the village on one hand appear to be helpful but are ultimately hurtful towards Harper. For example, the law man, who on one hand is supposed to protect Harper but ultimately dismisses her concerns. Sounds familliar. The vicker, who on one hand is there to provide spiritual support but tells Harper it was her responsibility to forgive her emotionally (and physically) abusive husband. Then there's the 'Nice Guy' host Geoffrey, who does everything to accomodate Harper but freaks out and crashes her car when she tries to leave. Then there's the man baby "teenager," who doesn't make any attempt to appear helpful, but only sees Harper as an object and a difficult woman who won't play his game. It annoys him to see Harper prioritizing her agency. These are the hazards of life many women have endured over and over by men who don't take them seriously.

when james fell they showed his head which had a big wound, when james appears at the end his head is fine but she had the ax and she ended up breaking his head and killing him

Great thoughts on the meaning. I'll be the first to say that Rory Kinnear requires an oscar nomination for this film. Especially for his role as the vicar. But I assume the Academy won't touch this movie with a ten foot pole.

I think the rebirth scene shows how we try to go through different iterations of ourselves, but no matter how much we change the outside, we still carry the same wounds and scars with us, no matter how much we wanna ,,slip out of our skin“.

This movie took a very heavy religious route, which IMO is what made it so good. Let's start from the top: 1. 3 minutes into the movie, before she even meets the owner of the house, she eats an apple. We all know what that means. While making introductory small talk with the landlord, he notices the half eaten apple and jokingly brings it up calling them "the forbidden fruit". 2. When the naked intruder is arrested at the house, the cop mentions at the bar later in the movie that he "didn't steal anything, except an apple." 3. Now the pre-Christian part: The idols displayed in the movie are called The Green Man and Sheela-na-gig. They are *_not_* two sides of the same coin, rather two very different representations of fertility and growth: - Green Man represent rebirth, spring, a new chapter, pretty much the entirety of what the main character is going through. The scenes in the movie where she was enjoying the walk in the woods, looking at the trees, admiring the nature, all have to do with this idol. - Sheela-na-gig is kind of a different story mainly because theologists/anthropologists have no idea what she symbolized. I take that back, they have ideas, just none of them are definite answers. Theories include pagan fertility goddess (IMO the most likely), idol to ward off evil spirits, and wouldn't ya know, the patriarchal explanation where the idol represents "a warning of lust, to not give into your desires. Women are evil, remember what Eve did...blah blah blah." 4. Herefordshire, where the movie takes place, has their own 1st century church with Green Man and Sheela-na-gig idols carved into the door. It's actually the church used in the movie. Not only that, but the tympanum (arch above a heavily decorated door) is carved with the _tree of life_ coming full circle. 5. Random but: The main character is Irish in real life. The Sheela-na-gig is an Irish mythological idol, but has also been discovered all across Europe.

MEN reminded me of MOTHER, which had lots of subliminal messages and meaning. I think this movie each male character represents either the main characters different emotions and feelings or her late husbands emotions and feelings. From anger, strange, kindness, spoilt like the creepy child wanting what he wants. Also the naked man represents nature, birth and reborn like a reincarnation. If anybody else knows more just let me know 🙂👍🏽

The naked man represents rebirth . The rest of the men represents each personality that her x showed. I loved this movie once i put it all together...brilliant

The bit where the naked man was caught as well was interesting. After Harper took an apple from the tree, Geoffrey said something about forbidden fruit. Then, the naked man was found confused around the apple tree, giving an impression of Adam and Eve and a reference towards the birth of man

Great analysis! Just saw the movie tonight. You are bang on for a lot of the interactions that Harper had. The face on the stone carving in the church is of the Green Man, a spirit of the woods in UK folklore. So that definitely gave this a slight suburban Wicker man vibe. The biggest take away from this movie is when a woman just needs to self reflect and heal it is hard for her to do so, because all of the men around her want something from her. They constantly make demands of her because they feel they are more important. Even at the end when the rental agent is talking about how he has to step in to save her, even though she's just been attacked, he makes it about him. How his father treated him and made him feel inadequate.

I do think it’s interesting how James was birthed feet first. To me it connotes the idea of his evilness being so inhumane, that he is not birthed naturally

I feel you truly explained every character and the storyline/plot exactly how I interpreted it completely!!! Bravo, thank you!

Thank you for saying, "I don't get that mindset - but I do know it's prevalent." A lot of people just say they disbelieve to the point of... Well, just not believing us?

Your analysis earned an instant follow from me. Thank you for reading this film at a deeper level.

Thanks for your view on this film, i found that you helped me understand the most out of all the rest of the explained videos

Brilliant review. I loved this film. Couldn't get her echo call in the tunnel out my head for days, creepy!

I'm wondering if her friend that arrives at the end being pregnant had anything to do with the visual imagery in the film or why Harper decided to leave her husband. It seems that her husband was blindsided by the divorce and said "you're not divorcing me, you're divorcing who I've been in the last year." Im wondering if her friend getting pregnant triggered something in herself, realizing what she had to look forward to herself. Through that lense, the birthing cycle of her husband's characteristics seems to click!

Amazing analysis! Thank you for putting my thoughts into word

Saw so many interpretations of this movie, yours is the only one that actually made any sense!

So far I've only seen men making reviews of this film and telling us what it means. Ironic? You make so many valid points but don't mention the lady police officer who was full of understanding, with her most important line "he seems harmless". She represents the woman in authority given to her if she complies, i.e the naivety of women. The vicar of course is the religious advisor, appearing to stand for good against evil, classically a male role, who has hidden intentions. I thought it was a wonderful film and Rory Kinnear is a great actor. It gave me a few flashbacks to watching The League of Gentlemen. (Mostly I kept thinking "what a beautiful house") : )

Finally got a chance to sit and pay attention to this today. I think you're spot on about everything except the woodsy guy. I think he was/is the personification of toxic masculinity who only showed up once Harper made herself known near the tunnel. She was having a private moment of joy, and it woke him up causing him to chase after her and ruin it. Loved your take on this. Earned a sub for sure.

This video was awesome I think you're completely correct. I loved the way you explained everything. I was able to easily follow along with everything you said. Instant new sub! ☺️

This was a really great analysis. Definitely subscribing!

I can't stop thinking about the phone glitches and the end reveal that the friend is pregnant which follows a bunch of obscene births. Also think they missed an opportunity to isolate Harper further by having a female emergency line operator and a female police officer. Would have liked for them to be men to make the experience even more surreal.

Excellent review! I think you might be interested to check out more about the folklore and biblical references in the film. Namely the Green Man, Who is a symbol of rebirth and Sheela na-gig.

After watching I searched to help me with an understanding of the ending. I've watched several but this is the simplest but also allows me to think further and deeper but got me on the right track. Thanks

Great review yo!

I was reading that some people saw the people in the movie as different toxic archetypes. The boy is the way children are socialized to behave / treat girls. The vicar is the person of authority that abuses that power. The nice guy that owns the villa is just that - a nice guy (the sort of person who does nice things for women and then expects emotional labor or more often, affection, as repayment). I wanted it to sort of fit the view that all of the men are aspects of the ex husband but other than being an emotional manchild who resorts to violence I didn't see it *explicitly* but this is a movie, not a documentary/tv show so it still definitely can work. It would conclude that the ex husband, who started off blaming his wife of all these misdeeds was actually emotionally manipulating her and in truth put her through an emotionally abusive relationship One last thought from reading comments is that a lot of men are reacting defensively to this movie. The movie doesn't attack men as a category - there is an explicit "villain" in this movie so why would a random audience member feel attacked?

I laughed so hard when the cop said they had to release him. It could take place in NYC as they let all the Criminals out. Thanks to the policies

This was my favorite break down of the movie. Thank you

Great breakdown of the film. Sadly I did not enjoy Garland’s latest project, but I will always support films doing different things, or having abstract story telling.

The ‘forced chivalry’ of Geoffrey was a good observation. I also think it’s likely Harper was pregnant, and escaping London to debate on the future of the pregnancy

The Green Man - pagan myth of rebirth/spring - is depicted by the naked man, symbolized on the church alter. His face is typically half human half tree. He pays respect to life cycles of nature, depicted by the decomposing deer. He symbolizes the fertility of the earth. Perhaps this movie is critiquing the idea of a male deity for birth/rebirth. Perhaps it's suggesting even deities can be influenced by their gender psychology.

I see the plant guy as a metaphor for the family tree - passing down all the bad things from man to man, continuing the cycle

This was a great explanation!! Thank you!

I applaud them for making daring films. Amazing cast. However, It feels heavy handed with the symbolism. I think if it was more subtle, you would have had a winner.

great video ! thanks:)

I got everything that you said in this movie. I absolutely loved it.

This was super helpful, so thank you. I had noticed a lot of the bits and pieces but struggled to put them together cohesively like you did here. Well done.

I adored this film. The central themes is all about toxic masculinity, incel’s and the lengths men will go to to uphold misogyny and control women. I cannot get over how good this movie is.

This movie has been running through my head for a bit and I’ve thought about some of its themes and ambiguity. One thing I realized was in regards to whether her husband jumped to his death or not. When Harper is on the phone with her friend for the first time she tells Harper a small little fact about the elephant being the only animal that cannot jump, which to me implies that her husband did intentionally jump to his death. Just a thought. I love these types of movies and I am sure I’ll be dissecting this one for awhile. Might even go see it again.

Well done analysis. Appreciate your take on this film. Just a small thing, but I liked that by the end, Harper had resigned herself to the weirdness of the situation and the whatever-it-is. She doesn’t (continue) freaking out, as so many (mostly) female protagonists do in films. I wish more characters in horror films would, at some point, just accept that weird/supernatural things/monsters/villains exist and get on with the business of defending themselves.

... EXCELLENT assessment, this is.👌🏾 Well done.

I’ve read reviews on this film, and my god its really really sad. People literally walked into a horror film expecting something not scary or traumatizing. That’s kinda the point. The visuals of this film were beautiful. The sounds and soundtrack were beautiful. The symbolism and tying together of everything was very well done. I feel like all the negative reviews come from smooth brains that can’t understand something unless it is blatantly stated outright.

She doesn’t see the first Man until she eats the apple, which we then learn is the “forbidden fruit” / fruit of knowledge, opening her eyes to the evil of man. There is also a subtle hint to this when she briefly plays the piano, which she claimed to have no ability to do at the beginning of the film.

I know you rate things with units based on couches, however, I personally believe you should used units based on munchies. It would fit more with your channel name. Great analysis, as always. Keep up the great work.

Great analysis. This is a great movie to watch a couple of times. On first viewing it can be jarring to encounter how different and interpretative the second half turns out to be, after having a start that seems to be a regular narrative. I think the film did a great job in that first half to put the viewer in the shoes of the helplessness and oppression that come from constant misogyny. By contrast the second half feels like a shock that comes out of the left field, but after thinking about it, it all ties up neatly. It's a powerful message.

A huge "Thank you" to the reviewer and many who have shared their comments. I watched the film earlier today. I left the theatre feeling lost. I appreciate the time so many invested to share their insights and observations. NOW, some of the symbolism in the movie makes sense. I would not watch it again, but I am better prepared to explain why others might want to see the film. This movie will be shown in movie appreciation courses. Well done.

Great take on the movie. Still one of the weirdest movies ive ever seen.

Excellent review! Well done.

LOVED THIS CHILLING TO THE CORE MOVIE... BEAUTIFULLY DONE...MUSIC WAS HAUNTING

Excellent walkthrough and dissection of the film’s narrative. Very well articulated. You’ve got a new subscriber.

Great analysis. I thought this movie was a masterpiece when I left the theater, and now I like it even more. That's the most scared I've been in the theater in years, truly haunting visuals. And the way they captured toxic masculinity without feeling contrived. Then Geoff Barrow killing that soundtrack. It was incredible

so me and my wife both enjoyed the movie so much more after u broke it down ..... well done

I really enjoyed your ideas and analysis, as well as most of the commentary here from other viewers. (I'm always a little confused why people want to engage in conversations with others about a film that they think is garbage.) I wish, in your video, that you had more cutaways to shots and even short video clips (with or without sound) from the movie to illustrate your arguments. I know that's more work for you, so you can ignore me too. 🙃

I can see how all of the men in the movie were forms of James haunting her which led to her wanting the divorce to begin with. Makes so much sense to me when put that way What she liked about James was probably the character that was helpful, carrying her bags, showing her around, being genuinely nice All the things she didn’t like about James were all the other characters in the movie. Dismissing her feelings, blaming her for their actions and treating her like an object etc Thank you so much for the review

Even with all the explanations given I still hated this movie. I was expecting more than what I got.

The Agamemnon reference is not to the character itself, but to the poem "Leda and the Swan" by W.B. Yeats which draws parallels between Leda/Harper/Victim and Swan/Vicar/Rapist. There is also a reference to Harper being a Siren and the Vicar being Ulysses in another poem. And the stone planter is a reference to the "green men" or Irish/British/etc. "old men of the forest. The other status is a sheela na gig.

The first thing that came to my mind at the final scene when her pregnant friend showed up was: "she's got insane and killed the first guy...". So there's something still present in the society that leads us to blame women, even after all the horror they've been gone throught... This movie is just perfect.

Good walk through, makes sense but I hated that movie I thought it was weird 😂

i love that her friend saw the aftermath, showing that the toxic side of men is also totally apparent to her as well

just got done watching this and you nailed it

New sub! Great take

I literally just got home from the theaters seeing this movie and I won't lie it left me quite perplexed as I was walking out to go home. I was expecting a bit more of a clear-cut answer to what exactly was going on and felt I didn't receive it, but after listening to your review I now have a bit more of an appreciation for the movie and understand what was the point was being driven home. Would I recommend this one to a friend, no, but it was an interesting watch.

Alex Garland is amazing! I read a review that said that this movie wasn't representative of women's experiences and basically was terrible. I really like him so I was disappointed, and had low expectations. But wow. I related so much! It was really well made and terrible at the same time. During the priest scene where he blamed her for creating his experience of lust I was yelling at the screen, I really related to that as a survivor of sexual abuse and harassment. I really loved the birth scenes as gross as they were because I feel that that is in a sense how many men approach a lover, as a second / substitute mum, and they bring all of that baggage (good or bad) with them. In seeking love selfishly like a baby they become monsters because they are not babies, they are big and strong and sexually mature. That combination of wounded child and all the capacities and inclinations of a mature adult is dangerous. I know a lot of people might feel it would undo the work of this film but in the interests of empathy it would be nice to see Garland do a sister piece to this showing how women are monsters. For we are all capable of being monsters, and only the very meekest among us has not been that to someone at some point.

This movie felt like all the things women complain about men doing. That’s why all the men where the same actor as I felt it was to show that all men are the same. No matter who she ran into in the town they all wanted to have sex with her. The ending to me was an example of what men truly want which is the power to give birth. Men hold ever lever of power in society except the ability to create life and not having that power drives them mad. I also think it shows that men having kids on their own without a women may be doomed to raising the same monster. Garland made a horror movie about the things women go through and deal with on a daily basis

Thank you Chris. Now I can connect the dots

Love your video! After doing some of my own research, I found that the “nature man” is a personification of that stone face carving. Historically it has been called “green man” and carvings have been found all throughout Europe; some dating back to second century C.E. These carvings were eventually adopted by Christian churches. The real meaning of the carvings are unclear, as it was first made when an official language had not yet existed and this could not be recorded, but many believe it is a symbol of unofficial paganism in alliance with official religion. I’d also like to share my opinions on “the birthing” scene. I think it represents generational trauma and how toxic masculinity is passed down generation to generation; each one more pathetic and wrongfully entitled than the last, which is why the first body is the nature man (the most primal of all the men) and the last body is James. He is the modern man-child, an example of how men feel entitled to everything a woman has and is. Let me know what you think!

Just left the theatger and *was* very confused, you cleared up alot ! Thank you

Great review

I liked the little moment with the falling apples. "The apple doesn't fall too far from the tree". Toxic masculinity breeds toxic masculinity; sometimes, it's an ongoing generational cycle.

I really want to know who actually died in the end, whose blood it was. Was it really Jeffrey's? There would be no reason for all of his characters to be at the house that night so I think after he began checking the perimeter and the plant man blew dandelions in Harper's face it at that point became unreliable/symbolic. Also her sister/friend being pregnant could play a part in influencing any hallucinatory visions (the birthing scene). The film also seems to be implying that all men are the same - each changing but with the same injuries and different skin. One thing Jeffery did do in the beginning was when he mentioned her being a woman/lady and not to flush certain toiletries or whatever he said - like a she wouldn't know that. A few things I didn't get was why when she was asked by Jeffrey if she played the piano she said no, but told her friend yes, and we find out she clearly could play. And one other thing - when she was on the phone with her friend and she said she would "take that axe and chop the guys..." and Harper herself did not know there was an axe behind her and had to ask "what axe?". Her friend could have seen it during the phone tour (I don't remember if she got to that room in the tour). The phone glitching and showing what looked to me like a screaming face was another thing that I could not piece together, as well as the harassing text messages. And why was the sister/friend not alarmed in the slightest to see Harper's car was wrecked? And she didn't seem to either 1) see the naked man in plain sight during the phone tour or 2) did not acknowledge him/see him/or knew who/what he was. The plant man reminds me a tiny bit of the man from The Wailing.

Love your take! I noticed a lot of other “reviewers” totally diss on this movie being totally confused as was I, but I wasn’t quick to judge the film just because I couldn’t 100% understand it. Timeless art is something that can be discussed and interpreted forever and that’s fun to me!

this video is very well done.

I felt like the “birth” of James was the entity(?) trying to give her what she “wanted”, or a familiar form to entice her to stay.

Here are several things I picked up from this movie: The opening shot is orange, and every scene with James is orange - orange is a color of autumn, autumn represents change and the end - autumn sometimes symbolizes change or the end before death (winter) - Harper is ending the relationship, and at the end Harper's perspective changes Harper wears pink in most of the movie - link represents love, youth, feminimity, tenderness, care Harper is surrounded by greenery - green represents growth, renewal, healing, birth, rebirth The house - someone else said here that the house represents the womb! - the men constantly barging into the house or trying to is like a man trying to "barge" into a woman - the walls are red, and red also represents love, hate, anger, power The stone in the church: - has a man and woman back-to-back - stones represent permanence, stability, grounded to the earth Someone else said the tunnel represents a vaginal canal - this is a space Harper is comfortable in until she sees someone at the end of it. That someone comes into the tunnel, invading her space - the tunnel echoes, and echoes signify repitition (repitition emphasizes meaning), cycles, and going back-and-forth (like Harper thinking of James) The pond nature-shot: -water symbolizes life and reflection - the water eventually ripples - this shot happens when Harper is walking around. Harper is still thinking about her life, *reflecting about her causing James to die* The crow in the house: - breaks through a window, which is a *destruction of escape,* hope, and an alternative path - crows represent death. A man threw a crow into the house, a threat of death or to use death - the "little" boy playing with the crow and then not believing Harper with her knife is a clear connection to the boy *playing with death* - the boy using the bird as a toy with the woman mask on it signifies men using women as toys or for pleasure Harper eats from an apple tree - apples connect to the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil - Harper sees the truth after eating tbe apple, but copes with it througout the movie - "Eve" The Naked Man - follows, grabs, stalks, and blows dandelion seeds at Harper - also eats from the apple tree - "Adam" - Eventually becomes both the man and woman from the stone in the church - Dandelions: - blowing them is like "getting your wish" - in Greek, "Taraxacum" is a combo of words that mean disorder and remedy - the flower itself represents life, so the puffball must symbolize immaturity or growth?? After the bar scene: - Harper continues to look behind her. Behind her is a graveyard. This likely reminds the audience that she is *still* looking back at her past with James and what happened Each man that invades her space is representative of a deadly sin James- Greed Rude boy- Gluttony (interchangeable with James??) Naked Man- Envy (he doesn't have what Harper has) Geoffrey- Pride (chivalry) The cop- Sloth (doesn't do his job) Man from the bar- Wrath (is mad for unknown reasons) The vicar- Lust (for obvious reasons)

I just got home from seeing MEN at the independent community cinema where I work. I was really curious to hear what people made of it, so I did a search on RU-vid and found a few explanation videos. Yours has been my favorite. I shared it to our Facebook group for Cinema Arts Centre Members and Friends. I hope it sparks discussion. I love your take and I love hearing you explore these themes. You are doing exactly the work the film is asking people to do. Just like it is the job of white people to examine our own behaviors, beliefs, and conditioning regarding race, and to dismantle racist systems and structures, it is up to men to examine misogyny and sexism and dismantle those systems within society and within themselves. I think that's the work this film aims to facilitate. Your analysis really gives me tremendous hope for this work...although this didn't seem like hard work for you. You seem to totally get it. I also agree that they are all James for the exact reason you state. I just subscribed to your channel and look forward to hearing your take on more movies.

Great analysis! I had the thought that each of the male characters were also symbolized the stages of grief.

I think you nailed the intent of the film and I really liked your take on it. Even better than Breakfast All Day which had two women reviewers. Nice work and I would love you to be my male friend hanging out at the bar with me to make sure I am safe.

This was great analysis. I haven’t seen your content before and this is my first time here. There’s not much discussion about this film so thanks for your perspective.🙏

Just saw this so I might be late to the party. This film was a direct reference to women, and the weight of hundreds, if not thousands of years of oppression. The biblical references of Adam and Eve from the beginning of this picture were prominent throughout the film. I believe this was meant to draw highlight on the society that we live in, with respect to women and how men have always treated them. The entire film is about control. Throughout our society and history we’ve seen men use their power to make women give in to their needs and wants. We’ve also seen men go out of their way to be a gentleman whilst removing women counterparts from the ability to make their own decisions, as if they’re void of the ability to make decisions altogether. The bar scene brought these motifs to light when Harper isn’t even allowed to order a drink for herself without a man to buy it for her. Knowing all of this, no matter how hard men try, they cannot replace or accept the notion that without women they would not be alive. These notions draw about the outline for the film, and also the inspiration for what Alex Garland is trying to put highlight on. The first sequence in the films shows Harper arriving at the country house after a devastating sequence of events with her husband. Immediately after arriving, Harper sees a tree bearing fruit, which compels her to eat an apple off it. After meeting Jeffrey, he even remarks on this! Then after showing her the house and explaining the amenities, Harper goes on a walk alone. During the walk she’s encountered by a naked man who follows her back to the house. This is a direct reference to Adam and Eve. Adam and Eve were both born naked, and it was Eve who decided to eat the fruit off the tree, which ultimately was cause for her sin. Ultimately, this could be a reason or motivation for why the naked man following her never hurts her. Instead everytime he’s seen around her he seems like he wants to be close to her, much like a man seeks a female companion. If Adam and Eve were the beginning of procreation between man and woman, then all this has to be a direct reference to the title of the film, and the oppression that women face. Even the fact that all Rory Kinnear’s characters are the same draws highlight on the fact that all men are the same! The fact that Harper doesn’t realize this speaks to the notion that all men are the same and bear a similar face. As a man watching this film, from a women’s perspective it’s very easy to see and feel the isolation and terror women must feel in certain mens presences. Another thing I found interesting was the world that Alex Garland portrays in this film is errant of women. Only 3 women appear in the entire film and one of them you don’t see in the flesh til the end! I could go deep into the subliminal messages involved in this film, but ultimately this was a film about women and the oppression they face daily. Fantastic watch and I can’t wait to own this film and see Alex’s future works!

What is the meaning of the acoustic song being pitch shifted up at the start of the movie vs the one at the end?

Great Explanation 👍👍

This is a movie that will definitely stick with you and find new things on rewatch

The way man (humanity) tries to dominate (Mother) Nature is something to take note of within the symbolism of this movie. 🍁🍎🌳

Excellent analysis!

I definitely think the green man is the representation of nature, he himself is not inherently hostile, but his lack of boundaries, being bare naked, and trying to enter her home, and his “natural” form brings forth the more toxic traits that have hurt and continue to hurt women in their lives, the need for control, the rage, the lust, the hate, all born from a “natural” place for men, from which they place the blame for it onto women, when truly all they’re doing is leeching off of women for their own desires, much like the maggots on the doe…