Humane (2024)
A Dystopian Thriller Set in a Disturbingly Plausible Future
In the bleak near-future, a severe environmental crisis has forced countries to take drastic measures to reduce their populations. The government has resorted to paying people large financial sums (which can be passed on to their children) to have themselves voluntarily euthanized.
Charles York (Peter Gallagher), a wealthy former news broadcaster, and his celebrity chef wife, Dawn (Uni Park), decide that they will undergo the procedure. York invites his four adult children to his home, where he tells them of his plans. Charles’s preteen granddaughter Mia (Sirena Gulamgaus) comes as well.
The kids are aghast and try to talk Charles out of dying. After all, most of the “voluntarily euthanized” are poor folks who need the money, not rich people like them. Meanwhile, Dawn mysteriously vanishes after apparently getting cold feet.
The euthanasia crew, led by the seemingly congenial Bob (Enrico Colanti), shows up and gives Charles his wish. After Charles’s kids tell him that Dawn has disappeared, Bob informs the stunned family that he is still required to collect two bodies.
Mia is exempt due to her age, but one of the remaining adults must die. Will it be controversial political commentator Jared (Jay Baruchel), Mia’s conceited mother Rachel (Emily Hampshire), recovering alcoholic Noah (Sebastian Chacon), or struggling actress Ashley (Alanna Bale)? A brutal fight to the death ensues.
A New Cronenberg in the Director’s Chair
Humane, which recently premiered on Shudder, is directed by Caitlin Cronenberg in her directorial debut. She is the daughter of famous body horror filmmaker David Cronenberg and the sister of Brandon Cronenberg, who has also forged a name for himself in the genre. Caitlin has mainly worked as a photographer, but recently she finally decided to try directing. This has to be some sort of record. How many families have three people who have directed feature films?
Caitlin’s vision is unique from her other family members. Humane isn’t a body horror movie, at least not in a conventional sense. It has more in common with apocalyptic movies like The Purge. Her directorial style is also more conventional. Most Cronenberg movies are bizarre and surreal. Humane has its share of weird moments, but it definitely feels more mainstream.
Related: The Best Body Horror Movies
Still, she has the Cronenberg touch for disturbing us. Several scenes in this movie, especially the ending, are quite unsettling. Don’t be surprised if this one sticks with you long after you stop watching.
It also contains plenty of political commentary. Humane has many themes that are relevant to contemporary society, including the toxic effects of broken health care systems, climate change, nepotism, and government propaganda.
If you’re looking for in-depth commentary on any of this stuff, keep looking. Humane isn’t interested in more than a cursory examination of these issues. Lots of films bring up themes like these, but far fewer are willing to actually do anything with them. This movie doesn’t have anything particularly special or profound to say about this stuff.
A Veteran Cast
Caitlin Cronenberg was able to lure some well-established actors to star in her film debut. It’s fun to see Peter Gallagher again. I honestly wasn’t aware that he was still acting. He played the wacky “king of real estate” dude in American Beauty (1999). He’s very believable as Charles York. Gallagher brings a certain sadness and resignation to the role that fits his character perfectly.
Emily Hampshire, who has appeared in numerous films, including David Cronenberg’s Cosmopolis, delivers an entertaining performance as a shallow heiress whose one redeeming quality is that she genuinely loves her daughter.
Colantoni is perfectly cast as the film’s main villain. Bob comes across as a regular, blue collar guy. He seems unthreatening, but he’s a psychopath who hides his sadism behind an affable façade.
Rating
Humane only explores its themes on a perfunctory level, and that keeps it from having a chance at true greatness. But it’s an entertaining effort with a memorable villain that you’ll love to hate.
Rating from 1 (avoid at all costs) to 10 (masterpiece): 7
