Foe Falls Flat Despite Emotional Performances by Paul Mescal and Saoirse Ronan
In a futuristic uncertain world, Hen (Saoirse Ronan) and Junior (Paul Mescal) farm a secluded piece of land inherited by Junior’s family in Foe. Their quiet life is thrown off track by an uninvited stranger (Aaron Pierre) who shows up with a proposal. The couple is forced to decide if they are willing to risk their relationship and current life for a chance of survival in a new world.
Foe is based on Iain Reid’s novel of the same name and features a stellar cast with two Academy Award nominees. Given the big names attached to the movie, why haven’t we heard much about it?
While Mescal and Ronan are utterly captivating, the writing and story just don’t come together in a digestible way. Foe relies too heavily on mood and emotion, rather than plot points and storyline. The relationship between Hen and Junior is the heart of the movie but even that gets convoluted and the two Irish actor’s American accents aren’t all that convincing.
The moments of shock come off more confusing than delightful. I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s predictable, but rather messy and incomplete.
The first hour of the movie is this back and forth of a tumultuous marriage that just comes off as sad. Junior seems to be suffering from mental health problems seemingly due to the stress of leaving his wife. They could have honed in on the space aspect a bit more, instead it felt like a last minute detail added in. Why did Junior have to leave? Why was he chosen? What was he doing in space? This aspect of the film left me with more questions than answers since we never really see him during his time away. Junior’s return from space is supposed to be this “aha” moment but falls flat.
The commentary on artificial intelligence also doesn’t add much to the story. It’s supposed to warn you about the possible future of realistic AI and how it can unwillingly take over and deceive us, but it seems as though these characters didn’t mind falling in love with something that isn’t “real.” The line between human and artificial is blurred throughout, making you wonder if you’re watching the real person, or their AI doppelgänger.
The best part of the movie was the end sequence that included not one, but two twists. The Junior we watch most of the movie was actually his AI twin, and when the real him returns, Hen is distraught to see her husband’s replacement leave. Their previously suffering marriage only seems to get worse upon Junior’s return and Hen decides to leave this time. When she returns, we come to realize that it is not her, but an artificial twin. Junior knows this but doesn’t seem to acknowledge it and is happy to move forward with his life alongside a fake version of his wife.
When most sci-fi films tend to lose you at the ending, this one loses you at the start only to find you more confused than invested at the end. The final act wraps up your guesses and ties the previous events together, but doesn’t leave you with any real impact.
Foe is streaming on Prime Video.
