The Humans

Twenty years after 9/11, the USA no longer feels like the land of opportunity. Instead, it is the country where the rich get richer, and the rest of the country sinks deeper into debt. Instead of blaming the billionaires who have transferred the wealth of the middle class to themselves, or the fragility of an economy dependent on foreign oil, Americans blame each other. They argue about "wedge issues," small differences blown out of proportion by politicians who know anger will get them votes. It's easier to hate your neighbors than it is to accept than to accept that there is an eventual time for accounting for all superpowers, and that time for America is now.

In this film, three generations of family gets together in a dilapidated NYC apartment to celebrate Thanksgiving. From the first shot of the film, it's clear that the family comes together out of duty, and not because they want to be together. They can't agree on anything, except that every family member feels as if the other family members have failed him. The resentment floats in a thick miasma in an apartment that looks like nothing good has ever happened there.

With the camera as silent witness, what's haunting each family member is revealed. It's exquisitely painful filmmaking, and an incredible lesson from the "show, don't tell" school of playwriting. Every actor delivers a restrained performance so knowing that you want to hug him, but you know he will slap you.

This is what movie making should be.

After watching the film I could tell it would not get much love on IMDb, but I personally liked it. The screenplay is very good. What I liked about it were the dynamics of the family relationships. The acting was really superb by all of the actors. It seemed like the most realistic Thanksgiving film I have ever seen. Not the idealized Norman Rockwell Thanksgiving we normally see.

The film did feel a little dark and creepy, but this isn't a horror film. It's as IMDb describes it, a family drama. So I think many people will watch it expecting horror and be turned off by it. I did love the attention to details. The old deteriorating and depressing tenement building. The banging pipes from a largely empty apartment that amplifies the sounds caused by water bubbles in the plumbing were really on point. The loud footsteps. The first couple of days in a new apartment in a large city can be frightening especially when you don't have all of your lighting in place and you are left with large empty spaces with dark shadows with strange sounds.

I am giving this film an 8 because I felt the dialog was very organic and realistic. I felt like someone inside this apartment witnessing this Thanksgiving reunion and listening to these people. It's is bleak and depressing but it was good. Another good job from A24.

I just watched this on Showtime. I had no idea Amy Schumer was in it. Her part was very small. Not sure why there are so many haters. How she "ruined" the film escapes me. As for the film, I was intrigued. Not a lot transpired. I don't know why I had the impression it was a ghost story, because it's not. Moody and creepy. Reminded me of my apartment in NYC that was very old, with bathtub in the kitchen. I want to recommend it because I like Richard Jenkins (he's always good) but I just can't. Hard to embrace a story that doesn't really go anywhere. I still gave it a 5.

Probably not the most ideal movie to watch on Thanksgiving Day as it focuses on a dysfunctional family unraveling their individual frailties during a desultory Thanksgiving dinner filled with personal confessions. It plays almost like a horror movie, but it's really an acting showcase for a strong cast including Amy Schumer in a non-comic role.

I truly enjoyed this movie, it was well worth the wait since I watched it during a free watchathon.

I've never been an Amy Schumer fan but I see why people are. All of the actors in this movie even the elderly Momo who only said gibberish was excellent!!

Totally believable family dynamics, with snide remarks in between. You know how we throw little jabs at family members with love but still kind of mean-spirited.

The visuals and the sound effects were the most important theatrical elements of the film. Without them it would be an ok film but with them it's almost perfect.

I'm going to address the low ratings. Just because a movie says horror or thriller, doesn't always mean it's going to have a lot of blood, guts and gore.

The jumpscares and visuals in this movie were enough to make me believe it fits in the horror category or at least the psychological thriller category. It put me in the mind of The Others.

So if you're expecting blood, guts and gore you might want to pass on this one. But if you're expecting great acting with jump scares and great visuals for a limited set and a sense of eeriness overall definitely watch this one!

I used subtitles due to the actors talking over each other or talking in the background.