This is the most apt description. Imagine having one of those nightmares where you did something unspeakably awful and are just in the dreadful minutes and hours before the people you love find out.
In a weird way, the film reminded me of The Office episode Scott's Tots, but on steroids. In that episode, we are just waiting for Michael Scott to drop the bomb that he's not gonna pay for the kids' college but he just keeps putting off the inevitable. Meanwhile the kids and the teachers are so effusive in praising Michael for his generosity, completely oblivious that he has no way to follow through on his promise.
That episode is frequently cited as the most painful and cringe-worthy episode of the entire series. The Coffee Table deals out the same kind of anxiety, but it's way more intense and it's stretched out into the length of a feature film. It's almost unbearable
It does have some disturbing gore when something horrible happens which is enough to disturb but what makes the film even more unnerving is not just this initial shock but the real feeling of dread throughout the film as you witness the main character's pain and their struggle to delay the reality of the situation when it is inevitable that the the aftermath will have to be faced soon
I would not say its gory. The scene that sets the story and tone is very disturbing but thats due to the subject matter. They show just enough to make you disturbed but I would not call it gory as there is no actual gore.
It's true it is mostly the subject matter, overall yeah it's not a gore-full film. They do mostly just show the reaction but they did also did give a full shot of the bloody aftermath when it happens...and parts of it later...which is enough to say it has an element of gore. I think if you told someone no gore they'd feel mislead.. but it really is the dread afterwards that makes it such an unnerving experience. I'm glad people are watching film though it's cool when smaller features catch on by reputation/word of mouth
So, I just reviewed this film. After hearing all of the comments about how disturbing it is, I thought I was going to see something like a Serbian film or Martyrs. It is NOT that. I went in with those expectations and realized it diminished the impact this film had on me. However, I really loved it.
It’s disturbing what happens to this family and how they handle it. But it’s also a DARK comedy. Lots of people will have a hard time seeing that because they can’t get past “the event.” You are waiting for that to be revealed to a key character and the tension is depressing. Feels like a ticking time bomb. The actors are amazing and it’s shot beautifully.
I'm really glad they didn't really show anything.
I feel like it would have been a different, less enjoyable film if they did.
Also, I feel like it works along the same lines as a monster movie. Show as little as possible and let our imaginations do the rest of the work.
I've never heard of this until now, but it was only $4 to rent on Prime Video, and I liked it. I would not call it extreme horror, or particularly horror, it's more black comedy drama. It is very much tragedy, and spending much of the run time with simmering tension and constantly pouring salt in the wound. As far as dark comedy goes, I'd compare it to Happiness or a Larry Clark movie, just not as good. It's very mean spirited, and the movie makes no qualms about the main character being an ass, and doing nothing to improve his situation. It's not unlike The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe, in how the guilt is ratcheting up, and going mad. It's never funny haha, but it gets to points where I felt like Walter White at the end of the crawlspace episode of Breaking Bad, things are so beyond worst case scenario, you can't deal with it. Definitely a gut punch type movie that uses drama to its fullest. You might need to suspend some disbelief early on, but it pays off. Like how is a coffee table going to be the title? It's a stretch, but things make sense when you see it. Personally I'd give it an 8/10 rating.
Spoilers
>!guy buys coffe table. His wife hates it. Wife goes out. Guy assembles coffee table. Drops his infant onto it, and infant gets decapitated.!<
Strange enough, this is exactly what I thought would happen. They bought a coffee table that was possessed and it started to ruin their lives.
Instead, their lives were ruined in a far more horrific way...
Was an incredibly disturbing watch. Loved it.
Well, the descriptions got to me. We’ve just tuned into it ourselves. The first scene is really great.
Edit: just finished it. What cruel little film. The performances are great, but boy is it stressful and really heartbreaking. The situation is definitely horrific.
I’ll say it’s one of the most anxiety provoking movies I’ve ever watched. It doesn’t feel good, like, I don’t feel good. I’m glad I logged into Reddit tonight otherwise this one might’ve flown by me for a while. I need to take a shower after watching it, so 8.5/10
I feel like this is a horror movie that people are hyping up as extreme but it actually doesn’t show anything on screen. You’re not in for a gore fest but you’re probably in for thinking about your own life in a way you haven’t before and watching some characters confront some pretty horrible truths
I'm not even done watching but I have to comment. Can we please start a support group for survivors of this film? My skin has never crawled more but I can't stop watching. Omfg Its the dog scene. I CAN'T WITH THIS MOVIE! HOLY FUCK
I read somewhere they are calling it the horror movie of the year. I'm not sure it's even a horror movie with gore or something spooky about to jump out, for jump scares. It's almost a pov of a tragic event with some dark humor sprinkled around the main character.
Just finished watching it after going in blind.
I’ve never felt an anxiety like this and it is a wild ride.
I find movies like this hard to recommend but boy it was a good movie.
never seen the movie but going by the title I am guessing the script writer had a brain fart when it came to the title so they look around the room and named the movie after the first thing they saw
Do you know after that scene in Hereditary, when that character stops the car and then drives home? Imagine 70 minutes of that.
This is the most apt description. Imagine having one of those nightmares where you did something unspeakably awful and are just in the dreadful minutes and hours before the people you love find out.
In a weird way, the film reminded me of The Office episode Scott's Tots, but on steroids. In that episode, we are just waiting for Michael Scott to drop the bomb that he's not gonna pay for the kids' college but he just keeps putting off the inevitable. Meanwhile the kids and the teachers are so effusive in praising Michael for his generosity, completely oblivious that he has no way to follow through on his promise. That episode is frequently cited as the most painful and cringe-worthy episode of the entire series. The Coffee Table deals out the same kind of anxiety, but it's way more intense and it's stretched out into the length of a feature film. It's almost unbearable
I just finished watching this movie and came to Reddit to process. This is the absolute best description possible without giving any spoilers.
Nailed it.
It’s like if Ari Aster adapted an Edgar Alan Poe story and continued that for 90 minutes of pure anxiety
Ok I’m sold
well said
It does have some disturbing gore when something horrible happens which is enough to disturb but what makes the film even more unnerving is not just this initial shock but the real feeling of dread throughout the film as you witness the main character's pain and their struggle to delay the reality of the situation when it is inevitable that the the aftermath will have to be faced soon
I would not say its gory. The scene that sets the story and tone is very disturbing but thats due to the subject matter. They show just enough to make you disturbed but I would not call it gory as there is no actual gore.
It's true it is mostly the subject matter, overall yeah it's not a gore-full film. They do mostly just show the reaction but they did also did give a full shot of the bloody aftermath when it happens...and parts of it later...which is enough to say it has an element of gore. I think if you told someone no gore they'd feel mislead.. but it really is the dread afterwards that makes it such an unnerving experience. I'm glad people are watching film though it's cool when smaller features catch on by reputation/word of mouth
So, I just reviewed this film. After hearing all of the comments about how disturbing it is, I thought I was going to see something like a Serbian film or Martyrs. It is NOT that. I went in with those expectations and realized it diminished the impact this film had on me. However, I really loved it. It’s disturbing what happens to this family and how they handle it. But it’s also a DARK comedy. Lots of people will have a hard time seeing that because they can’t get past “the event.” You are waiting for that to be revealed to a key character and the tension is depressing. Feels like a ticking time bomb. The actors are amazing and it’s shot beautifully.
I'm really glad they didn't really show anything. I feel like it would have been a different, less enjoyable film if they did. Also, I feel like it works along the same lines as a monster movie. Show as little as possible and let our imaginations do the rest of the work.
I just had the same experience after hearing about how disturbing it is. It skewed my viewing and I think it made me like the movie less because of it
Please tell me the Blu-ray has little fold-out legs to make it a coffee table itself!
I feel like they'd have to pay Kramer royalties for his invention, and who wants to be associated with him these days?
Anxiety. 80 minutes of pure stress as you wait for the inevitable repercussions to hit.
I've never heard of this until now, but it was only $4 to rent on Prime Video, and I liked it. I would not call it extreme horror, or particularly horror, it's more black comedy drama. It is very much tragedy, and spending much of the run time with simmering tension and constantly pouring salt in the wound. As far as dark comedy goes, I'd compare it to Happiness or a Larry Clark movie, just not as good. It's very mean spirited, and the movie makes no qualms about the main character being an ass, and doing nothing to improve his situation. It's not unlike The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe, in how the guilt is ratcheting up, and going mad. It's never funny haha, but it gets to points where I felt like Walter White at the end of the crawlspace episode of Breaking Bad, things are so beyond worst case scenario, you can't deal with it. Definitely a gut punch type movie that uses drama to its fullest. You might need to suspend some disbelief early on, but it pays off. Like how is a coffee table going to be the title? It's a stretch, but things make sense when you see it. Personally I'd give it an 8/10 rating.
Don’t tell me the titular coffee table is possessed
Spoilers >!guy buys coffe table. His wife hates it. Wife goes out. Guy assembles coffee table. Drops his infant onto it, and infant gets decapitated.!<
Definitely not watching then lol! Can’t watch movies like that 😭
Strange enough, this is exactly what I thought would happen. They bought a coffee table that was possessed and it started to ruin their lives. Instead, their lives were ruined in a far more horrific way... Was an incredibly disturbing watch. Loved it.
Is it the spanish movie? On prime? If so im bout to watch it
Report back!
Well, the descriptions got to me. We’ve just tuned into it ourselves. The first scene is really great. Edit: just finished it. What cruel little film. The performances are great, but boy is it stressful and really heartbreaking. The situation is definitely horrific.
I read your post and rented it. I’m 20 minutes in, and uh… yeah. It’s about as extreme as horror movies are willing to go. Just go for it.
Something real bad happens
I’ll say it’s one of the most anxiety provoking movies I’ve ever watched. It doesn’t feel good, like, I don’t feel good. I’m glad I logged into Reddit tonight otherwise this one might’ve flown by me for a while. I need to take a shower after watching it, so 8.5/10
I read the plot on Wikipedia. That’s a no for me.
I feel like this is a horror movie that people are hyping up as extreme but it actually doesn’t show anything on screen. You’re not in for a gore fest but you’re probably in for thinking about your own life in a way you haven’t before and watching some characters confront some pretty horrible truths
Thanks for the rec. Been saving up a few horror movies for a chilled out night. This is now on the list.
I'm not even done watching but I have to comment. Can we please start a support group for survivors of this film? My skin has never crawled more but I can't stop watching. Omfg Its the dog scene. I CAN'T WITH THIS MOVIE! HOLY FUCK
It’s just anxiety inducing really, for some reason I couldn’t get behind it though.
Where are you guys watching it? I can’t find it anywhere and I desperately want to see it!!
It's on Amazon Prime.
I read somewhere they are calling it the horror movie of the year. I'm not sure it's even a horror movie with gore or something spooky about to jump out, for jump scares. It's almost a pov of a tragic event with some dark humor sprinkled around the main character.
Just finished watching it after going in blind. I’ve never felt an anxiety like this and it is a wild ride. I find movies like this hard to recommend but boy it was a good movie.
As a new parent, I can’t handle this. I didn’t watch and I’m still triggered out of my mind.
Yeah, I would recommend new parents avoid this one.
Does anybody know the book title and author?! I can’t find it anywhere ..
I just want to know if it shows the baby's head or anything like that... If it does I may pass on this.
It doesn’t show the act, but it does show the aftermath
So there is a baby head shown?
Yes. It’s not center frame or up close, but you clearly see it in a few scenes.
Thank you
never seen the movie but going by the title I am guessing the script writer had a brain fart when it came to the title so they look around the room and named the movie after the first thing they saw
Well guess again
It's actually suitable for the plot of the movie is based around