Plot Summary: A father and son arrive at a remote beach for a surfing vacation, but are met with hostility from the territorial locals. As the father attempts to prove himself worthy of surfing the beach, he descends into an increasingly surreal and menacing experience that challenges his sanity and physical limits.
Director: Lorcan Finnegan
Screenplay: Thomas Martin
Music: François Tétaz
Cinematography: Radek Εadczuk
Starring:
Nicolas Cage as The Surfer
Julian McMahon as Scally
Nicholas Cassim as The Son
***SPOILER ALERT***
Welcome to the Church of Cage
Someone once said that "Nicolas Cage" is its own movie genre, and I couldn't agree more. I specifically chose to watch The Surfer because I was in desperate need of a fix, and this film, directed by Lorcan Finnegan, couldn't have been a more perfect vehicle for him. One of the absolute standout elements is the strange and stunning soundtrack by François Tétaz. When the movie opens with Cage arriving at the beach with his son, the music is so ethereal that I thought mermaids were about to leap out of the water and I was in for some artsy, low-budget flick. But no, after a few minutes, the soundtrack starts to make perfect, unsettling sense. This initial scene also gave me major flashbacks to one of the greatest TV shows of all time, The League of Gentlemen. This time, though, the greeting is less "This is a local shop for local people" and more "This is a local beach for local people." You get the point.
Check out the clip below to see exactly what I mean about that "local beach for local people" vibe.
Down the Rabbit Hole of Rats and Funky Eggs
Midway through, the movie veers into deeply cryptic and surreal territory, constantly making you doubt what's real and what isn't. It's always trying to misguide you. I'll be honest, I wasn't smart enough to completely unravel the story's message on the first go. I couldn't decipher all of its incongruities, and I suspect if you go looking, you'll find plot hole after plot hole. But I think that's okay with this movie. I might be wrong, and I don't plan on breaking my brain trying to solve it, but I would definitely rewatch it to try and make more sense of it all. The more I think about it, the more I love it. It even inspired me to make a cool AI reel for another project I have going (you can check it out here). My favorite scene, where everything goes completely off the rails, is also the most "Nicolas Cage" moment you could ever ask for. The man who famously ate real cockroaches in an early role is now eating what looks like sewer rats. I don't think they were real this time (haven't checked!), but I can assure you those funky-looking eggs he eats definitely were.
You can watch my favorite scene below, where things go completely off the rails in the most Nic Cage way possible.
The Agony and the Ecstasy of a Local Beach
My dearest, Krasnaya, was watching this with me and was not having a good time. The violence and the sheer menace of the local surfers got to her. "Surfers are supposed to be calm and relaxed, what the hell is this?!" she said. She clearly hasn't seen Point Break. It got me thinking about how these were old-school, territorial surfers, not the friendly instructors you see at granny surf schools today. It made me nostalgic for the days of subcultures, back when I was a kid and desperately wanted to be part of the exclusive surf club but had to settle for skateboarding because I lived too far from the beach. I think skateboarding is probably the only thing that will never lose its cool... but I'm rambling. What bothered me most wasn't the violence, but the suffering the main character willingly puts himself through. I was genuinely yelling at the screen, "Just get in your car and go home! Be done with it!" It would have been such a relief. He goes through such extreme pain just to prove himself worthy. Anyway, if you like the good, unhinged Nicolas Cage and you like surf movies, you will love this. It's a total bonkers film, and I absolutely recommend it.
For the final clip, watch the moment that had me shouting at the screen for him to just go home... all for a damn cup of coffee.
π₯ Cinematography (8/10):
Beautiful beach shots contrasted with unsettling, sometimes claustrophobic framing that enhances the surreal atmosphere.
π Story (7/10):
Intriguing, cryptic narrative with some plot holes, but that's part of its charm. It keeps you guessing and thinking long after it's over.
π¬ Direction (8/10):
Finnegan confidently steers this bizarre ship, creating the perfect playground for Cage's unique talents.
π₯ Characters (9/10):
The territorial surfers are genuinely menacing, and Cage's character's determination (or stubborn foolishness) is compelling to watch.
π₯ Visual Effects (7/10):
Subtle when needed, bizarre and unsettling when appropriate. The surreal elements are handled well.
π Acting (8/10):
Pure, unfiltered Cage doing what he does best. Supporting cast creates a genuinely threatening atmosphere.
π¬ Dialogue (7/10):
Minimal but effective. Sometimes what's not said is more important than what is.
π Setting/Atmosphere (8/10):
The remote beach feels both beautiful and terrifying. Perfect setting for this strange tale.
π΅ Music (9/10):
François Tétaz delivers an ethereal, unsettling soundtrack that elevates every scene. Truly exceptional work.
π Entertainment Value (8/10):
For Cage fans and lovers of weird cinema, this is a perfect storm of bizarreness that's endlessly entertaining.
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