The Coffee Table

A put-upon husband gets his way for once, and then screws up in the worst way imaginable.

Not a horror, but a black comedy fuelled by the awful unease of having to own up to the unspeakable. It is engaging, but doesn't really amount to much, and the comedy relies on heavy-handed irony and a score that tries to mix a sense of spaghetti western showdown into the mounting dread. Also very heavy on dialogue, which crowds out the need for action.

The central Event is dealt with off-camera, and only referred to afterward through the stains it leaves behind. A secondary Event is thrown in for gratuitous plot complications, but can't really be sustained by the rather plain characters. I thought the chance for dramatic irony was missed in not getting the wife to decide for herself to stay out of the room: "I promised not to become over-attentive, like my mother" - along those lines.

The performances are good, with the psychic pain of the lead character well delivered. And the direction keeps up variety in a tight location.

Overall: notable oddity.

P.s. There is a Jesus theme, but I don't think it informs the story. Maybe I need to think harder.

This movie is more devastating and shocking than every horror movie i have watched, except for MARTYRS (the original). I don't know if i should recommend it because, make no mistake, as it is unfolding, it's almost unbearable to watch. If you are the type of person that can't stand horrifying movies or else they get nightmares, don't watch it. There are no flesh eating monsters here, there are no masked killers, there is not even violence. Not even depraved/deranged characters. I won't say anything else in order to avoid spoilers.

There is a comedy element indeed here, but it's so dark and bleak that it's gonna make you feel guilty when you feel it. I am not gonna lie, i laughed a few times during the first 30 minutes. However, this is not a dark comedy. This is a psychological drama thriller, anxiety-inducing as a movie can be. As it was getting closer to the end, i literally wished for time to run faster because i couldn't stand it anymore. And i am not that sensitive, i love dark comedy and horror movies, i can watch almost anything.

I gave it a high rating because this is an unforgettable experience. For a guy who has watched thousands of movies, this is a great praise for a movie. This is a well acted and well directed movie that i won't forget soon.

Short review: I've always loved the concept of one small decision changing everything in a massive way. We were actually warned by the director before watching this film not to watch it. I thought to myself, I've seen the worst of the worst, how bad could it be? This isn't a film like 'A Serbian Film' or 'Hostel' that sets out with no purpose other than to shock you as much as possible. But this film will drain you and have you thinking long after the credits roll.

There are a couple of moments of humour in the film, and they are genuinely funny moments, but because of the subject and tone of the film you feel like a monster if you laugh. I can't remember experiencing that before.

This is an emotionally draining film and not one that is designed for everyone to watch. However if you are game I think you will find it both rewarding and memorable. 8/10.

Not at all what I was expecting. I got the impression from people's remarks when this first hit streaming services that this would be some new trash shocker in a category with films like The Human Centipede and/or A Siberian Film, however it is nothing like that. While both of those films have their share of underlying humor, The Coffee Table is almost entirely almost humorless, and attempts to take one idea and stretch it out into a feature length film.

Unfortunately, a rather creative concept and some admirable acting performances are tainted by a film that's entire second half has virtually no worthwhile elements, and seems to simply draw itself out until it's long enough to be a feature length. The entire second half of the film is nothing but meaningless dialogue between 4 characters that in no way furthers the story, or ups any tension or intrigue - instead it actually slowly diminishes the tension as the runtime progresses, and by the time the finale hits, it is very difficult to actually feel anything for any of the characters. While the characters are relatively realistic archetypes, none of them are especially likable - so there aren't a lot of emotive stakes when the film's chaos ensues.

But, massive flaws aside, I have a bit of respect for The Coffee Table, for its ambition, creativity, and commitment, however it is not a very good movie, and I think it might take it self a bit too seriously. But, who knows, maybe it's someone's true story?

I thought I was going to be watching a horror movie. It was, in a way; it was real life, natural horror. Not the stuff of monsters and the supernatural and nightmares, or things that go bump in the night. I gave it a 6 because I think it deserves a smidge better than a middle of the road rating. Not a lot of character development, but we do get a very tiny bit on 3 of the characters - Jesús, María, and Jesús's brother, Carlos. Maria, at times, could be super annoying; there is really nothing at all likable about her. I did really like her husband, Jesús. The contrast between them is so profound, I don't see how they could be together. I've known couples who are opposites, but this couple wasn't believable for me. And Ruth, the 13 year old neighbor, ugh. She's a character on the periphery and at the end of the movie, I understood why she exists in this film at all. The actress did a good job with her performance, because, like Maria, I pretty much just wanted to reach into the movie and smack her a few times.

This is an emotionally dark, dark film. It was filmed in a dark light as well with very little color, except in one scene where there is a lot of bright color, which was done deliberately, I'm sure. It was all about the characters' emotions for me. It was really hard to watch sometimes. There is some dark comedy in the first Act, but it doesn't last long. I can't say if I'd recommend this film, I'm torn. I don't think it's a waste of an hour and a half, but I do think one has to be prepared going in, knowing this is dark, and emotionally raw, and NOT a Horror film. I don't know how IMDB comes up with in what genre they list films, but The Coffee Table is not a Horror film, or least not what I think the average Horror fan wants when he/she/they go looking for one. It is also listed as Dark Comedy, but there is so little of that, that I don't think it belongs there either. Drama is the only genre that makes sense - Tragedy would work too, if that was a category. Now I'm off to find a real horror flick that I haven't seen.