Coming to theaters from A24 on July 18, 2025, Eddington represents another daring departure for Writer-Director Ari Aster, who built his reputation on unsettling Horror films like 2019’s Midsommar and 2023’s Hereditary. This time, Aster steps away from Horror to explore a tense, character-driven Western set in the small town of Eddington, New Mexico. Set against the backdrop of a May 2020 standoff between the town’s sheriff and mayor during the height of the COVID pandemic, the film explores the unraveling social fabric as neighbors become deeply divided.
Award-winning Joaquin Phoenix (Walk The Line 2005, Joker 2019) leads the cast as Sheriff Joe Cross, a man increasingly isolated and at odds with those around him, especially Mayor Garcia, portrayed by Pedro Pascal (Game of Thrones series, Gladiator II 2024). The film also features Austin Butler (Elvis 2022, Dune: Part 2 2024) and Emma Stone (La La Land 2016, Poor Things 2023), but despite their star power, both actors are noticeably underutilized, with limited screen time and character development. This makes it feel somewhat odd to see such big names given relatively minor roles, almost as if they were brought on more for marketing appeal than for integral contributions to the story. Perhaps relying more heavily on strong character actors rather than big names might have given the film more depth and a stronger emotional core.
Eddington delves deeply into themes of community division, isolation, and the power struggle, all set against a backdrop of rising paranoia. The small town’s social fabric unravels as neighbors turn against each other amid the tension of the 2020 pandemic and the explosive standoff between the sheriff and mayor. Sheriff Joe Cross embodies isolation and alienation, navigating a world where trust is scarce and every interaction feels fraught with tension.
Meanwhile, the power struggle between the sheriff and Mayor Garcia highlights how authority becomes a battleground for control over a community teetering on the edge. Throughout the film, conspiracy theories are woven seamlessly into the narrative, fueling the paranoia and suspicion that grip the town and escalate the conflict. These themes hit close to home, reflecting the turmoil many experienced during the pandemic years, making Eddington an intense and sometimes challenging watch. While the film ambitiously juggles a wide array of ideas, it occasionally feels chaotic and scattered into too many directions.
After reflecting on Eddington for a day or so, this chaotic weaving of numerous ideas and conflicts—both between characters and within the world they inhabit—can be seen as an intentional choice. It raises the question: Are all the events and distractions in the story deliberately crafted to divert attention away from the new data center development project proposed at the beginning of the film?
Even when Eddington revisits this plot point at the end, audiences may have forgotten about the initial conflict introduced in the story. Aster is a talented writer who uses this narrative layering to mirror the way real-life issues often get buried beneath noise and personal drama, challenging viewers to look deeper and question what truly matters beneath the surface.
Eddington struggles with pacing, particularly in the early scenes, where some of the character development feels slow and, at times, frustratingly drawn out. This initial sluggishness can make it challenging for audiences to fully engage with the story or invest in the characters right away. However, as the film progresses, the tension builds steadily, and a sharp turn in the narrative injects a much-needed surge of excitement and momentum, pulling viewers back in.
Meanwhile, the second half of Eddington is so different from the first that it almost feels like a shift in genre, transitioning from a slow-burn Drama to something more thrilling. This contrast may feel jarring to some, but it also reflects the chaos and instability the film is trying to capture.
Eddington is not a film that aims to please everyone, and that might be the point. Audiences will likely be split: some will find its messiness and ambition deeply intriguing, a mirror to the confusion and fragmentation of the time it portrays; others may find it frustrating, unfocused, or even alienating. But whether you admire its risks or reject its sprawl, it is hard to deny that Aster is pushing boundaries and trusting viewers to wrestle with what they have seen.
In a landscape crowded with formulaic storytelling, Eddington is bold in its refusal to offer easy answers, and that alone makes it worth the conversation. This is why Cryptic Rock gives Eddington 3 out of 5 stars.
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