Here's my "film review" for The Banshees of Inisherin: Don't watch this movie. I'm not saying that in a "reverse psychology” way or making some clever attempt to get you to watch this film. I mean don't watch this movie. I’m serious. And no, it's not one of the TOP 10 MOVIES OF 2022, despite what people are saying. Yes, it's shot beautifully and yes the actors are great and the location is great. No, don't see this movie because it's so freaking depressing, I had to go watch Schindler's List TWICE to cheer me up. Wow.
You know how people say "there's two hours I'll never get back" when they waste time watching a movie with no redeeming value? This is worse. Here's the plot: "In old timey Ireland, mean and depressing people do mean and depressing things to each other before things take a turn into horrible, please-erase-this-from-my-brain land." This movie isn't a waste of time--it's actively depressing, not something we need more of in our time. Things are depressing enough already without ACTIVELY seeking out things that will bring you down. For example, a friend of mine is always trying to get me to watch the Walking Dead series, and I tell him he's fecking crazy: "why would I want to see people being mean to each other on purpose for an endless number of hours without any redemption arc?" I mean, why are we all obsessed with these movies that preach how horrible life is? What am I supposed to take away from these stories? We're all worthless and nothing matters? Life is depressing? I can find that on Twitter or Tik Tok.
Another thing frustrating about the film is that it is GORGEOUS. I want to visit these places and walk along those cliffs, just not with any of the people featured in the film. And it brings up another question for me: what if they (those proverbial “they” people, who are they anyway) had spent the production budget of this film on something with a better story and more likeable characters? I’m always frustrated when I get the sense that money is just being flushed down the drain for no good reason. I’m looking at you, “Eternals.”
Okay, I'm wrapping up this review with the following: you know how you felt after watching "Irreversible" or "Raw" or "Battlefield: Earth?" Here's what I said: "Wow, I wish I had never seen that because now I have these images in my mind I can't get rid of." That's what this movie is. If you want to ruin someone's day, recommend this movie and gush over the cinematography and the acting and how beautiful the landscapes are. Just don't be surprised if they call you up later and tell you off for recommending this depressing waste of film.
