Humane

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.

In 2024's "Humane" we are introduced to a wealthy families dinner party that transforms into a night of horror and betrayal. Due to an environmental collapse, humanity is forced to shed 20% of its population and after the father of the York family dies, they are confronted with a situation that seems unsolvable at first. But without spoiling anything, the siblings certainly don't have much of a problem to betray each other and go for the easiest way out to save themselves.

The premise seemed interesting enough and with Caitlin Cronenberg as the director I was intrigued to say the least. However the movie ultimately falls pretty flat and becomes a rather underwhelming flick. It's well acted and overall the production looks pretty solid. The premise is slightly stupid but also interesting and unique in its own way. However the movie never manages to evolve into something memorable. It's able to pass the time but overall doesn't leave lasting impression and therefore ends up being pretty ordinary. [5,4/10]

I recently watched the Canadian film 🇨🇦 Humane (2024) on Shudder. The storyline follows a global agreement for a 20% population reduction and a wealthy family caught in the middle of the crisis. Some members of the family support the plan, some oppose it, and they even discover that some of them are volunteering to participate. As the process for collecting volunteers unfolds, things take an interesting turn.

This film is directed by Caitlin Cronenberg in her directorial debut, and stars Jay Baruchel (Goon), Emily Hampshire (Schitt's Creek), Peter Gallagher (American Beauty), Colm Feore (Chicago), with a cameo by David Cronenberg (The Fly).

The premise feels like a unique spin on The Purge, with dialogue, perspectives, and circumstances that don't seem far-fetched, which adds to the film's entertainment value. The cast is well-chosen and fun to watch, and the action scenes are great, featuring plenty of slashing, stabbing, and fighting. There are lots of intense moments with stabs, slices, and cuts. While I did find some of the decision-making frustrating at times, it didn't overly detract from the film.

In conclusion, Humane doesn't really bring anything new to the genre but is still worth a watch. I'd give it a 6.5-7/10 and recommend seeing it at least once.

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.