Watching “Beef,” the brand new sequence from longtime author Lee Sung Jin produced by A24, is like observing a trainwreck. Solely, as an alternative of it being an accident that appears to return out of nowhere, two totally different drivers are working separate locomotives hurtling towards one another. They may slam on the brakes or change to a unique observe at any time, but they’re hellbent on destroying the opposite. No matter whether or not it brings in regards to the annihilation of their very own life, they only preserve going sooner and sooner towards a remaining collision. But, as they get nearer and nearer, there’s the sensation that every driver could also be extra just like the opposite than they’re totally different. By the point they notice this, it might be too late to avert the approaching disaster. It’s morbidly entertaining, sure, but in addition melancholic.
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The drivers on this case, Steven Yeun’s Danny and Ali Wong’s Amy, will not be working trains. Somewhat, it begins with the 2 in automobiles and getting right into a close to accident within the confines of a car parking zone the place Danny was backing up, and Amy was driving by. The previous stopped on the sound of the latter’s horn, however the disaster is simply simply starting. With out ever seeing the opposite particular person driving, rage consumes them each. After Amy flips off Danny, he begins pursuing her via site visitors. Almost getting himself and others killed, it ends together with her nearly hitting him earlier than dashing away. Danny memorizes her license plate, which he then makes use of to seek out her and get again at her. When he does so, she goes again after him, he after her, again and again, spherical and spherical. As every thing continues to escalate, what begins as a darkish comedy threatens to turn into a tragedy. With each needle drop, of which there are numerous, comes a way that issues are spiraling uncontrolled. Within the tenuous lifetime of two folks, a sequence of existential truths are teased out.
The exact escalations begin out foolish, even infantile, however quickly turn into one thing extra sinister. Danny urinating throughout Amy’s lavatory is met together with her vandalizing his truck he makes use of for work. But these are the identical places that may turn into altogether devastating, ratcheting up the stress till a grim, sinking feeling replaces the earned laughs that had been had initially. Discussing principally any plot particulars of this could rob the sequence of its influence as it’s a exactly constructed thriller along with being a personality research primarily based upon how far every will go. There are moments the place it looks like issues may by some means stabilize for every, just for it to explode. With each choice Danny and Amy make to not take the various off-ramps accessible to them, the extra it attracts you in. The best way it pulls collectively is messy, in a method it doesn’t at all times have a deal with on, however the reflections delivered to life by the 2 leads make for one thing mesmerizing. Every has finished nice work earlier than, however this sequence sees them actually letting unfastened.
Each play profoundly flawed and damaged folks, able to cruelty simply as they’re compassion. Danny cares deeply for his brother Paul (Younger Mazino) although is usually harsh to him, believing that that is the one method to assist him learn to navigate a painful world. Yeun is as spectacular as ever within the position, embodying the character’s fragile emotional state in each sudden outburst. Whether or not it’s when Danny mutters inventive vulgarities to himself whereas driving or when he breaks down crying in any respect he has needed to carry, we come to know him via even the small moments. Simply seeing him eat quick meals or attempt to strike up a dialog with a bartender is illuminating. Although vastly totally different in presentation and pacing, it’s a character that feels just like the one he really performed towards within the spectacular 2018 movie “Burning.” Danny is struggling to outlive, usually due to the various forces outdoors his management. The best way Yeun is ready to seize that is nothing wanting riveting, simply as it’s ridiculous.
Equally, Wong brings a lot to the character in simply the little methods she responds to issues. Although much better off than Danny, Amy has solely gotten there by destroying a lot of what it’s she needed for her life. She needs to spend extra time together with her daughter June (Remy Holt) and husband George (Joseph Lee) although she nonetheless has to promote her firm so as to take action. That is the dream, however we see in her each pained expression that this may not be sufficient to make her blissful. As we hear a number of occasions all through the sequence, “there’s at all times one thing” that may fully strip away their slivers of pleasure. Even when it looks like Amy is on the verge of a breakthrough, we already know this can get thrown away after we see a specific look creep again throughout Wong’s face. Although her character doesn’t at all times say a lot to precise this, her silence makes all of it that a lot worse, as we are able to see her frustration beginning to boil over. When it’s launched, it may be cathartic whereas additionally being relatably demoralizing.
It’s the performances of Yeun and Wong that make “Beef” work, even because the story could be a bit scattered the longer it goes on. This reaches a breaking level within the closing episodes that basically go off the rails, shifting from being a extra grounded sequence of escalations into a very chaotic spectacle. But even because the story goes off a cliff, being in freefall with Danny and Amy is exactly the purpose. Regardless of how a lot they flounder about, there’s something stunning about seeing their descent. United by a crushing despair and darkness that can be the place they’re most themselves, there’s a lingering hope being performed with in whether or not they are going to have the ability to discover a method ahead with out destroying one another. As their revenge schemes turn into extra elaborate, so does the portrait being painted.
This all takes on a extra oddly candy and nostalgic tone, every ingredient sneaking up on the story amidst the bleakness that’s grabbing maintain of it. Because the boundaries between Danny and Amy are pulled aside, every rising extra intently entangled with the lifetime of the opposite, it is sort of a cosmic joke in how it began out with such a easy, on a regular basis altercation in a car parking zone. There isn’t a getting back from this second, and, for higher or worse, seeing the duo emerge from it eternally modified makes the sequence into one as deeply unhappy as it’s more and more elegant.
For a narrative so outlined by folks consumed by their hatred of the opposite and, as we come to comprehend, themselves as effectively, there’s simply a lot to like when all else fades away. Very similar to the characters themselves, it’s a sequence that’s wrapped in an offended outer shell that reveals itself to have a compassionate inside that may both break away or be obliterated. Whilst you by no means know which is able to find yourself coming to move, you’re locked in for the experience. [A-]
“Beef” debuts on Netflix on April 6.
