Beautiful Friend is the horror film everyone is talking about – 7 million Tiktokers have voiced their opinion on the real-life incel horror that aims to shock the nation. Beautiful Friend is the film of the year. It will be released exclusively on Amazon on October 31.
The term “incel” is everywhere. What was once a niche piece of internet slang now populates international headlines and is a frequent topic in discussions about gender, misogyny, violence, and extremism.
“A disturbing first-person look at a violent kidnapper” The Hollywood Reporter – Three Films Not to Miss. Alexandrea Meyer won best actress for Truman Kewley’s horror thriller Beautiful Friend, in which she plays the object of obsession for a violent incel, played by Adam Jones. (Incels are heterosexual men who blame women and society for their lack of romantic success).
“Timely depiction of toxic masculinity and beta-male misogyny…like some kind of evil Wes Anderson” The Film Verdict.
In Truman Kewley’s quietly disturbing psycho-thriller debut, a sociopathic amateur filmmaker kidnaps the woman he wants to play his fantasy girlfriend role. Leaked from the depths of the dark web, Daniel, a depressed would-be content creator, chronicles his journey to find fulfillment, unraveling a complex tale of self-discovery with disturbing consequences.
Be warned, Beautiful Mind has some shocking scenes and because of this, I have included an extract from Truman’s Directors Statement to address this:
“The character of Daniel, the film’s lead perpetrator, was inspired by the manifesto of a mass shooter from 2014, who meticulously documented his life—his trauma, insecurities, and mental health struggles that ultimately led to a horrific tragedy. With Beautiful Friend, I wanted to confront audiences with a perspective they don’t often see—that of the perpetrator—and force them to feel complicit in an act that is statistically extremely common, to sit with the discomfort, and to reflect on the devastating consequences of such crimes in a way that most films gloss over. Given the sensitive nature of the film, we had a licensed therapist on board who specializes in working with women who have experienced sexual assault and trauma. She not only consulted on the script but was present on set to ensure that both the portrayal of violence and its emotional aftermath were handled with authenticity and care.” Truman Kewley.
Beautiful Friend will also have a theatrical screening at NYC (Film Noir Cinema) and LA (Laemmle N. Hollywood on Oct 30th, at 730pm).