Humane

The concept of this movie is pretty good, government needs to reduce population so pays people to be euthanised. Rich guy invites family round to tell them he's enlisted to do this. All kinda makes sense and can go along with the general idea.

The rest of the movie makes absolutely no sense whatsoever, the company that come and do it, the behaviour of the family, every action, further development of the original concept, decisions of everyone involved, nothing works. There is that single original concept, and thats it.

But actually that single thing was kinda enough to keep watching and see how it plays out, to its inevitable dissatisfying ending.

Nice idea. Ok to watch, could have been waaay better in every single way.

A chilling social commentary disguised as a family thriller. Set against the backdrop of an environmentally ravaged Earth, the film throws us into the heart of a wealthy family grappling with a government-sanctioned euthanasia program to curb overpopulation.

We follow the story of Peter, a once-celebrated news anchor now facing the prospect of entering the program. As his family grapples with this dark reality, cracks begin to show in the seemingly "humane" facade.

The film masterfully builds tension through a combination of social commentary and psychological horror. The luxurious homes of the privileged stand in stark contrast to the desperation of those on the outside. The ever-present threat of "Humane" hangs heavy, casting a shadow of doubt on every interaction.

"Humane" isn't afraid to get its hands dirty. The story takes some truly disturbing turns, highlighting the potential for social control and the lengths some will go to in a desperate situation. The parallels to "The Purge" are undeniable, but "Humane" feels more insidious, a slow-burning descent into a society where "culling" becomes normalized.

While the film might not offer easy answers, it provokes thought-provoking questions about resource allocation, euthanasia, and the ethics of survival in a world on the brink and how some enjoy the chaos as it plays out.

After stumbling upon many negative reviews around here, I felt compelled to share my thoughts with my first review. This film doesn't quite hit the lows that many claim, nor does it reach the heights promised by its premise.

The core issue is rather straightforward: the script (skillfully executed by Michael Sparaga) leans heavily into satire, however, it appears that not everyone involved in the production fully embraced this idea. The film oscillates between moments of absurdity, humor, thriller, and straight-up horror, leading to a somewhat disjointed direction. While there are occasional flashes of comedic bullseyes, the constant comparison to David Cronenberg's esteemed body horror of work is inevitable, despite the absence of substantial horror elements (barring a few graphic close-ups in the third act).

The movie would have greatly benefited from leaning further into its satirical elements rather than focusing primarily on horror and suspense. This failure to fully embrace its comedic side left me feeling somewhat confused. Is it a left-wing nightmare? A mockery of right-wing extremes? Probably neither. This imbalance, favoring horror over absurdist hilarity, likely contributed to the dissatisfaction of many viewers. When the socio-political message becomes too apparent in any form of art, there's a risk of either angering or boring the audience.

Still, if viewed as a satire, the movie with its one-location concept offers an entertaining experience. It serves as a commendable directorial debut and showcases a standout performance by Enrico Colantoni, who knows exactly what kind of movie he's in.

Enlist today! Aren't you ready to die for your country?

While it's nowhere near as good as its dysfunctional family/friends counterparts: You're Next, Ready or Not, The Collector, and Bodies Bodies Bodies, it would fit right in with a home-invasion marathon with these. And that's nowhere near what I expected, from the poster anyways.

I succeeded in going in cold for this one, sans the poster of a masked man standing at a doorway while holding a syringe. This is my preferred method; I absolutely love being surprised throughout the experience, like with this movie. I *thought* this was a slasher with a medical nutjob. Well, kinda, I guess?

Humane is definitely inhumane, obviously. In the near, and possible future, global warming has Day After Tomorrowed and people are now forced to both use umbrellas whenever in the sun and do whatever it takes to decrease the population. Enter rich, snobbish, opinionated and divided family X of the central plot and get ready to root for the bad guy.

I like movies like these. Movies that start of humorous/hilarious and fun-horror/suspense and eventually and progressively gets dark. Like really dark. And gruesome. Well-done practical gore. (Or at least it appeared practical.)

I also liked the commentary that's incredibly relevant today. We are most certainly a divided (by design) country and this movie is every Thanksgiving meal when the guests have courage.

Plus, I did favor all the backgrounds and the director/writer allowing time for each character to shine leaving really only one that dominated and stole every scene: Bob, the collector. He was definitely my favorite character, even though his slight revelation of who he really is was kinda disappointing. I preferred him indifferent.

I wish this movie was broader, but maybe like The Purge, this'll need a sequel or franchise to break free from the house setting. While I liked what I got in exposition/news clips, I was still a bit confused on the worldbuilding outside of the single-place location.

Still, I definitely recommend this fun and sometimes brutal romp that shouldn't be taken too seriously. A scary popcorn flick, indeed.

***

Final Thoughts: My headline was gonna be "Starship Bloopers" with reference to enlisting to a propaganda-soaked government, but thought that would reference more sci-fi/alien invasion movies more. Though, I'd love to see the bloopers for this movie.

Caitlin Cronenberg makes her directorial debut with Humane (2024), a film set in a near-future where overpopulation has led to drastic government measures-including voluntary euthanasia. A wealthy family gathers for dinner, only to see their night descend into chaos as they confront uncomfortable truths about their privilege and morality.

The premise is fascinating and full of potential for sharp social commentary, but the execution leaves much to be desired. At just under 100 minutes, the film still feels slow, struggling to sustain tension throughout. While the script aims for dark humor and suspense, it often lands in an awkward middle ground where neither element fully takes hold.

Performances are a highlight, with Jay Baruchel and Emily Hampshire delivering strong work. They bring some energy to an otherwise uneven narrative, but the characters as a whole lack the depth needed to make their dilemmas fully compelling. The production design and cinematography do a decent job of building an eerie atmosphere, but visually, the film never quite elevates beyond its small-scale setting.

Humane is an ambitious debut that doesn't fully deliver on its promise. Caitlin Cronenberg shows flashes of directorial skill, but the film's sluggish pacing and underdeveloped character arcs make it a frustrating watch. With a sharper script and a more dynamic approach, it could have been a gripping thriller, but as it stands, it remains a missed opportunity.