In the summer of 2020, Ari Aster, the acclaimed director known for his works like Hereditary and Midsommar, found himself navigating the tumultuous waters of social media. Much like many of us, he spent his days trapped indoors, scrolling through platforms like Twitter, which he admits left him feeling unsettled. “I was living on Twitter,” Aster shared in an interview with WIRED, describing the experience as “really agitating.” However, unlike most users, Aster wasn't just aimlessly doomscrolling; he was engaging in profound research that would ultimately lead to the creation of his latest film, Eddington.
Eddington, set to hit theaters on July 18, is a modern western that unfolds in a small southwestern American town during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement. This film intricately examines how social media and the internet have fractured modern society, isolating individuals in their uniquely crafted realities. As these isolated worlds collide, the narrative descends into chaos and violence. Aster employs a striking visual technique by frequently directing his camera at the Facebook and Twitter feeds of the main characters, offering audiences a glimpse into the conspiracy theories and memes shaping their choices.
To ensure authenticity in depicting social media's influence, Aster meticulously curated content from his own online experiences. “I started making a collection of things from my timeline to remember when I made the film,” he noted. “I also cultivated different algorithms to see what somebody else might be receiving.” This attention to detail not only enriched the film's narrative but also provided a relatable insight into the characters' complex lives. Starring Joaquin Phoenix as a populist sheriff and Pedro Pascal as a corrupt incumbent, Eddington oscillates between sharp political commentary and intense action, offering a fresh take on the classic American western genre.
Aster's film delves deep into the societal implications of our tech-driven lives, tracing the roots of our current dystopian reality back to the rise of smartphones. “Society has been atomized and fractured over the last however many years,” he remarked, suggesting that this disconnection began when we started carrying the internet in our pockets. Eddington embodies this theory, portraying a world where characters inhabit radically different realities, often leading to miscommunication and conflict.
For instance, a pivotal scene features a teenage boy explaining his decision to reject his own whiteness at the dinner table, leaving his parents in disbelief. Aster emphasizes that the film portrays individuals living in disparate realities, a reflection of how the internet has transformed human interactions in ways that remain largely unexamined. “I do think the technological revolution is a mostly dehumanizing one,” he asserts, highlighting the bewildering effect of online engagement.
Eddington also shines a light on the proliferation of conspiracy theories and the influencers who amplify them for personal gain. Phoenix’s character frequently encounters a disembodied voice from an abandoned laptop, spouting outlandish claims that later echo in conversations with his wife, played by Emma Stone. Drawing inspiration from real-life encounters and online phenomena, Aster sought to encapsulate the overwhelming nature of being connected in today’s digital landscape. “It was important to represent as many voices in the cacophony as possible,” he stated, aiming to craft a coherent narrative from the overwhelming chaos of modern life.
While Eddington primarily addresses the ramifications of social media, Aster also explores the implications of artificial intelligence. The film begins with a plot to establish an AI-training data center on the outskirts of town, a theme that resurfaces throughout the storyline. Aster believes this technological element is central to the film's heart, intertwining it with the characters' experiences of navigating crises during the pandemic.
In discussions about AI, Aster expresses a blend of fascination and concern. “I’m in awe of what it can do, but I’m also very disturbed by it,” he admits. The director fears that the rise of generative AI tools may dilute the essence of artistic creation while simultaneously democratizing the film industry. “There are more possibilities now, but something’s also going away,” he reflects, indicating a loss of authenticity in the creative process.
Warning: Spoilers ahead for the ending of Eddington. The film, despite its frenetic pace and chaotic narrative, maintains a sense of grounding until its climactic final act. After Phoenix’s character commits a heinous act and frames local protesters, the story spirals into an absurd action sequence reminiscent of a video game. “At the end, he gets to live in his own action movie,” Aster notes, likening the film's climax to a blend of Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto.
This surreal finale serves as a manifestation of the unhinged conspiracy theories that permeate the characters' lives, transforming them into a nightmarish reality. Aster likens this sequence to a portrayal of paranoia, echoing the sentiments of individuals who are deeply influenced by their online experiences. “The film is about paranoid people,” he explains, acknowledging that its interpretation can vary based on one’s beliefs and digital interactions.
Ari Aster's Eddington ultimately serves as a mirror reflecting the fractured state of modern society. While the film presents a clear political stance, Aster aims to foster understanding rather than alienation. “I wanted to give as broad a picture of the environment as I could without being dismissive or condescending,” he states. The film invites audiences to recognize that the divisions exacerbated by social media affect us all, and the path to healing our collective psyche lies in bridging these divides.
