Based on the trailers released for the A24 horror movie Devs, audiences have wondered what the visionary writer/director will do next.
On February 9th, the first trailer for his new horror/drama Men was released, followed by a second trailer on March 23. The trailers depicted a woman named Harper (Jessi Buckley) who ventured to the English countryside in an attempt to recover from a tragic incident. She then found herself stalked by an unknown force as she was confronted by several men who all shared the same face (that of actor Roy Kinnear). Like Garland's previous films, Men is produced by A24 which has released many iconic horror movies.
The trailer indicates Men will be different from Garland’s other works by focusing on elements of religious folk horror rather than science-fiction. Alex Garland's other works all contain spectacular science-fiction imagery, his film Ex Machina was even nominated for the category of Best Original Screenplay and won the category of Best Visual Effects at the 88th Academy Awards. However, the Men trailer doesn’t present any science-fiction imagery like robots or visitors from outer space and instead combines the imagery of the countryside with religious relics to evoke dread. Audiences have come to expect incredible science fiction films from Alex Garland, Ex Machina was heralded for being hilarious, terrifying, and thought-provoking by using science fiction imagery regarding robotics. Men may be Garland's attempt to show he is capable of flourishing in other genres as well. Given his success in revitalizing and reimagining one genre, this is a seriously exciting prospect for audiences.
Biblical imagery is a repeating visual theme in the trailer that reveals Men will be dealing with more spiritual horror rather than science fiction horror. For example, there are recurring visual motifs of apples falling from trees. Roy Kinnear’s character even calls them forbidden fruit, eluding to Eve's original sin in the Garden of Eden. Furthermore, at the end of the first trailer, there is a black snake writhing behind the title of the film. This is likely a reference to Satan appearing as a snake to tempt Eve. The imagery in the Men trailer demonstrates that Garland is going to twist the conventions of religious horror the same way he twisted the conventions of science fiction. Other horror films like Mother! used biblical imagery and metaphors to terrify audiences, now it's Alex Garland's turn to demonstrate his own unique vision of spiritual horror.
It is also likely that the film will incorporate elements of English folk horror as there is little to no technology present in the countryside setting of the film that can be seen. Since Men takes place in the English countryside, and the local town is filled with men who share the same face, it is likely Men will thematically approach how a small community responds when they are confronted by an outside which is a theme usually present in British Folk Horror. The idyllic natural imagery undercut by suspenseful music in the trailer is also reminiscent of the techniques used in iconic British folk horror films like the folk horror genre has grown and Men will likely be another iconic entry to the genre.
Of course, the Men trailer could be intentionally misleading the audience by withholding images that reveal it is a science fiction horror film after all. However, so far there are no indications in the trailer that any science fiction imagery or tropes will be present. Alex Garland has proven he is a visionary director who is able to capture terrifying themes and emotional performances within the realms of science fiction, the trailers for Men imply he can and will do the same for the religious folk horror genre.
