Shadows on the Wall | Magazine Dreams

Magazine Dreams

dir-scr Elijah Bynum
prd Jennifer Fox, Dan Gilroy, Jeffrey Soros, Simon Horsman, Luke Rodgers
with Jonathan Majors, Haley Bennett, Taylour Paige, Harrison Page, Harriet Sansom Harris, Mike O'Hearn, Bradley Stryker, Sonny Valicenti, Justin Cuomo, Peter Ivanov, Mark Rhino Smith, Dan Donohue
release US 21.Mar.25,
UK 5.Dec.25
23/US 2h04

SUNDANCE FILM FEST

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Luxuriating over the muscle-bound torso of a bodybuilder, this darkly introspective tortured-masculinity drama won festival acclaim before being shelved nearly three years ago due to star Jonathan Majors' legal issues, which eerily echo in the plot. Cinematographer Adam Arkapaw's cameras prowl across Majors' skin as the actor and gifted writer-director Elijah Bynum create a remarkable portrait of a gentle giant whose obsession begins to take a nasty toll.

In his desire to construct an award-winning physique, even if that means injecting mood-altering steroids, the socially awkwardly Killian (Mayors) thinks of little beyond his body. Care worker Patricia (Harris) worries that his growing violent aggression might compromise his ability to care for his grandfather (Page) in their home. His goal is to be as magnificent as muscle magazine cover star Brad (O'Hearn). Meanwhile at his supermarket job, Killian is also quietly drawn to clerk Jessie (Bennett). But all he can think about is further bulking up so he can become a cover star himself.

Majors is astonishingly invested performance as a shy hulk with explosive anger issues connected to a tragic past and constant racism. He may have a kind soul, but he struggles to interact with others and must remind himself to smile. There's depth and nuance in the performance, which ripples through Majors' enormously pumped-up body. He displays it with the same unflinching honesty as Killian's inner demons. Killian's out-of-control rage is scary, but his determination is even more terrifying.

There's a real sense that Killian is the kind of misunderstood man who falls through gaps in the system. Even those closest to him can't make sense of what he is going through. Scenes are inventively written, directed and played to expose what's going on beneath the surface without making excuses. On an unnervingly well-played date, Killian obliviously talks only about bodybuilding and orders more food than Jessie could eat in a week. And the narrative twists are unexpected and disturbing.

As this long, grim film goes slightly over the top, this is a frightening depiction of obsession that feeds into irrationality, allowing wounds to fester. Obviously, it's ironic that this uber-fit man is so profoundly unhealthy. This extends to his lack of perspective on his own life, which leads the story into some very painful situations. This is bold, provocative filmmaking, and it's not easy to watch a man destroy himself while completely missing the point about who he really is. But it's also impossible to look away.

themes, language, violence 29.Nov.25

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