The Humans - Movie Review

Critics Score - 9 of 10

General Audience Score - 8 of 10

Turning a Broadway play into a film is a very curious undertaking, each medium has advantages and disadvantages for conveying different aspects of basically the same story. We’ve been spoiled of late with some fantastic plays converted into some fantastic films, like Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and The Father from last year offering us some of the best performances by a lead actor. This year we get the privilege of seeing The Humans, the film version of a six year old, Tony award winning play by the same name from Stephen Karan who also directs the movie. It’s very contained like many play adaptations can be, but also highly entertaining as it blurs the edges of what genre it wants to land in, whether comedy, drama or even thriller. At a little over an hour and forty-five minutes, the film keeps us on our toes the entire runtime as it builds up terrific momentum and tension for the duration. But come in, pull up a chair and sit down with these people, you’ll find yourself captivated by the individuals in this story that’ll slowly help you understand why the monsters and aliens are so afraid of us, The Humans.

SYNOPSIS - This thanksgiving day celebration kicks off with some parents, the father Erik (Richard Jenkins) and mother Dierde (Jayne Houdyshell), are visiting their daughter Brigid (Beanie Feldstein) and her husband Richard (Steven Yeun) and we watch as Erik walks around their large but dilapidated, two-story Manhattan apartment like he’s performing an inspection. Soon Dierde and her other daughter Aimee (Amy Schumer) are helping Erik’s mostly senile mother Momo (June Squibb) through the narrow halls into the apartment in her wheelchair. But right off the bat we begin to clue into the fact that something we can’t quite put our finger on is not what it should be. Without going into spoilers, let’s just say the camera work and cinematography of the film focuses, gives up close-ups and pans around enough that you almost start to imagine you’re seeing things. As the family settles in, has a snack and conversation ensues, we enjoy some humorous exchanges between the characters but also get glimpses of turmoil brewing beneath the surface. As the relationship dynamics between these family members begins to come into focus, even without much action and drama, the writing of these characters has us glued to the screen as it all builds towards the climax.

Finally after they’ve brought in a priest and all the demons that clearly inhabit this apartment have been exercised, The Humans has only left you wanting more. The direction by Karan is impressive, the tone of the film he creates alternates between the creepy, something is about to jump out at any moment and lighthearted, laugh-out-loud funny with some amazing precision. The contrasting moods the film juggles so expertly is only solidified by the sound design, which this aspect of the movie alone makes it a must watch in a theatre if at all possible. The camera work and cinematography is also very intriguing and draws you into the aura of this apartment and it’s quirky elements with close ups and angles that only reveal so much. With the stellar cast holding up their end of the deal as well, Schumer is at her best, Jenkins is fantastic and the rest performing admirably, helps to elevate a family drama to the level not many other films can hope to achieve.

SUMMARY - This movie is so much fun and with so many key elements of the film working in lockstep with each other like the direction, writing, sound and acting, they put this piece of cinema among the best of the year and great for both mainstream audiences and the cinephiles among us. While these characters are fundamentally flawed and clearly imperfect, there’s very little fault to be found here with The Humans.