Underneath the sheer emotional terror of it all, Ari Aster likes a laugh. Sure, Hereditary and Midsommar might feature some of the most harrowing imagery ever put on screen, from visceral gore to the devastating depths of grief and rage – but those films, somehow, also have a pitch-black sense of humour too. Think the weird naked chanting sequences in Midsommar, or the demonically-twisted family dynamics of Hereditary. He also loves a bit of head-trauma – whether that lamppost shock, Toni Colette’s unconventional use of piano-wire, or that ridiculously over-sized Hårga hammer. As it turns out, all of those things are absolutely connected – and there’s more where that came from.
Yes, Beau Is Afraid – Aster’s third feature, a surreal, anxious odyssey starring Joaquin Phoenix – features yet another decapitation sequence from the director. And yes, it’s all in the service of giggles (even if it’s just his own). “It’s a joke at this point,” he laughingly tells Empire. “I mean, it is a joke in this one. What can I say, it makes me laugh.” It’s intended, he says, to pick up where the tone of Midsommar left off. “To me that film was a joke – a kind of mean-spirited joke,” he says, explaining that he was baffled by mentions of ‘unintentional comedy’ in reactions to his second feature. “I remember just feeling very defensive. That film was never actually meant to be very scary.”
If Beau Is Afraid is not exactly a horror movie either, Aster hopes that his latest film helps establish exactly what his filmmaking voice is. “I don’t really know what I am,” he says, teasing a move further away from the genre where he made his name. “The next film I’m making is a Western. I kind of hope that eventually I’ll be identified for like a tone, or a feeling.” Still, you can bet he’ll try and sneak an extra decapitation or two in there. You know, just for a laugh.
Read Empire’s full Beau Is Afraid feature, delving into Ari Aster’s unexpected new A24 opus, in the Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 issue – on sale Thursday 13 April. Become an Empire member now to access the issue in full on launch day, or pre-order the issue online now here. Beau Is Afraid comes to UK cinemas from 19 May.