Foe * * * ½

"Phil is  reviewing us."
"Wake me up when he's finished."

After viewing the trailer I had a feeling I might like Foe.  Apparently not many other people feel that way as I was completely alone in a 200 seat cinema, and this was a Sunday afternoon.

Foe is adapted from a well regarded book by Iain Reid.  He also co-wrote the screenplay with the director, and I can't help but wonder if that's why it's not really working.  An over familiarity with the work can perhaps lead to the assumption that everyone else will "get it" too.   They won't: at least I didn't. Though I must say it did inspire me to seek out the novel the same afternoon. 

It's directed by Garth Davies, who hasn't had too many hits since his celebrated Lion from several years ago. I don't think he's going to get one with Foe either.  Nevertheless he has made a pretty good film even if it becomes overly muddled in a way that is frustrating rather than intriguing or rewarding.    

Like the best of SF (the ultimate still being 2001 A Space Odyssey (from 55 years ago!)), Foe is quite a poetic work. 

It's all set on planet earth but that's not the only reason why Foe doesn't take off.  The year is 2065 and planet earth isn't looking too healthy (you could see that coming!).  A young couple (Henrietta and Junior) live in a secluded old farm house: they don't run livestock or grow crops or anything.  They just like the seclusion.  He works in a battery hen farm, she works as a waitress in a roadside diner.

Foe uses "The Visitor" or "Knock on the Door" scenario when Terrance turns up one night to have a chat with them.  Terrance explains that Junior has been chosen to be sent up into space as part of a colony.  The program is still in development stage but Terrance says his company believe Junior would be an ideal candidate.  

Terrance let's Henrietta know that she will not be left alone.  The same company that has built the colony are into AI and have made a simulation of Junior to stay with Henrietta whilst Junior is away "You won't notice the difference" he assures her.  He tell them that in order  to program the AI replacement he's going to have to move in with them for a while so he can study Junior. 

After that Foe virtually becomes a three-hander drama with Henrietta, Junior and Terrance going at it. Arguments, despair, uncertainty and scrutiny of their relationship - and all the whilst Terrance interrogates Junior for data to build the AI model of him.   

Despite some extraordinary scenes (horses thundering across the land, an inferno, a huge dust storm, beautiful aerial photography), overall there is a slowness to Foe.  And there are many scenes which are unexplained: Why is she crying?  Why does she turn from him?  Why won't she sleep with her husband? Why does she have secret meetings with  Terrance?  All is explained as we reach the end, giving us an Ah ha! moment,  and in a way I was kind of happy with that.  But then we go on for another twenty minutes which I thought just complicated and undermined a simpler story to no advantage.

The low-light atmosphere and ambience of Foe is something I quite appreciated.  It looks great.  And the acting from Saoirse Ronan as Henrietta and Paul Mescal as Junior is superb. Lesser known Aaron Pierre as Terrance does a fine job too.  As I said, it motivated me to buy the novel. I'm yet to read it, but afterward I think I might view Foe again and I suspect it will be more rewarding.