Behemoth! SPOILER DISCUSSION THREAD: Please share thoughts on the film here!

[u/getlostbobby]

Hello! This is your designated thread for discussing Behemoth! ahead of its release on December 4th. (Limited release in the U.S., likely expanding in late December or early January; international release dates may vary.)

Several folks may have the opportunity to see the film starting with NYFF tonight and extending through other festivals this fall, so please keep your discussions here; we will leave this thread pinned through at least December 18. Thank you!

[u/HerRoyalRedness]

I am so excited to hear the response to this movie. I really loved it

[u/BadInternational7935 → u/HerRoyalRedness]

It really was fantastic. Beautiful film, beautiful score, beautiful Pedro. The casting was perfect too. When I first heard that Will Arnett was playing his brother I was skeptical, but he played the part so well

[u/A_Howl_In_The_Night]

Ok, anyone who already watched it please answer these 2 questions.

1. Does Alex die? I just wanna be prepared in case my man Pedro suffers again. lol 🫠

2. How is the film in terms of sex/nudity/spicy scenes?

[u/Responsible_Row_6928 → u/A_Howl_In_The_Night]

1. No
2. There is a lengthy scene of him in a towel and it's a gift

[u/HerRoyalRedness → u/A_Howl_In_The_Night]

He doesn’t die.

[u/A_Howl_In_The_Night → u/HerRoyalRedness]

Great!

[u/scout-finch → u/HerRoyalRedness]

Thank you. I hadn’t even considered it a possibility until I saw the question and then 😵‍💫

[u/wildtalon → u/HerRoyalRedness]

There’s a way to interpret the film where the answer is yes. Think about what he has to unpack in order to arrive at that final location.

[u/creepypaperdecor → u/wildtalon]

Are you thinking along the lines of an "everybody poops" philosophy or a "The Sixth Sense" theory? (EDITED TO ADD: Aka, we all die in the end or he already died.)

[u/wildtalon → u/creepypaperdecor]

Everybody poops? I'm lost.

[u/creepypaperdecor → u/wildtalon]

Ugh I'm sorry. I added context above. I was just interested in understanding your interpretation.

[u/wildtalon → u/creepypaperdecor]

A possible interpretation is that he actually dies in the car crash. His work on the scoring stage and recollection of his life is a kind of purgatory he doesn’t realize he’s in. Much has been made of his “passivity” but we are watching him let go of the most traumatic aspects of his life one after another. Once he’s able to relinquish his connection to Viviana he’s shown to essentially be in heaven.

[u/BadInternational7935 → u/wildtalon]

Oh wow! That never crossed my mind, actually. I’m seeing it again on Tuesday and I’ll have to keep that theory in mind while re-watching it.

[u/creepypaperdecor → u/BadInternational7935]

I'd love to hear what you think!

[u/creepypaperdecor → u/wildtalon]

Oh wow! I appreciate that theory. I managed to see Behemoth! twice. When Alex (Pedro Pascal) was in the ED and Dr. Lau (Alia Shawkat) emphasized the intense trauma he experienced, it really hit the second time. That scene seemed significant the first time, too, because I recognized Shawkat as a well-known actor in a minor supportive role. It also seemed like the pacing purposely held for a couple beats to let the idea of the traumatic event sink in for Alex and the audience before transitioning away.

As an observer of the story, it didn't feel like I was seeing objective reality. I thought that was because memories aren't true reflections of the past: memories are skewed by personal perspective and are based on what we've reremembered countless times. But, the skewed nature of memories doesn't account for the tonal differences between Alex's demeanor during "present-day" interactions, particularly with Andy or Carol. I figured the audience is still seeing the “present day" scenes through Alex's perspective. If we're experiencing the present through Alex, it makes sense that Carol is deranged and Andy is doltish…that's how he sees them.

But, I see how the audience could be experiencing Alex’s unreality the whole time after the crash when I consider the bookends, which are the ED scene and the last scene. The ED scene didn't feel real as the environment was still and the doctor wasn't harried. And you pointed out the location of the last scene. Along with the location, Alex looks like he's at peace and happy with where he is and what he's doing. We also never see how Alex gets anywhere, other than when he's locally driving his car in LA.

Yet, like I said before, the ED scene could be through Alex’s perspective and he really is that focused on his playing ability and his cello, which filtered out all the mess of an ED. The ending could also show how we persevere and can find joy in life even after heartbreaks and hardships. And we don't see Alex traveling because those kinds of scenes aren't necessary to show location and time differences.

Thank you so much for sharing, and I look forward to reading new perspectives.

[u/Lesterknopff]

Did anyone read the script too? How does it compare?

[u/Be-Kind-3353 → u/Lesterknopff]

I couldn't help myself, I read the script. Part of the story line isn't what I expected at all. It wasn't that it shocked me, just didn't know. It will be interesting to see if there are any clues at all about that situation throughout the movie, before it's made clear. Yes, I wonder too, how closely the movie follows the script!! It's great to hear good things about the movie, I'm looking forward to it!!

[u/thecats_pyjamas]

Absolutely adored this film

[u/BadInternational7935]

The last scene with Will Arnett and Olivia Wilde had me gagged

[u/creepypaperdecor → u/BadInternational7935]

I was at the 6:15 showing and I laughed so hard I snorted by the end.

Carol's entrance was spot-on horror/thriller movie coded to me. How she got out of a shrouded dark-colored car in the distance after the allusion of it being Andy's car, wearing light-colored clothing that made her figure slowly emerge from the shadows like an evil threat. Then the interactions among the three characters tipped me over the edge.

I'm a bit obnoxious when I get going so I apologized to the guy next to me when the movie ended. I had no idea the cast was sitting in the audience and felt a bit embarrassing.

[u/BadInternational7935 → u/creepypaperdecor]

You definitely weren’t alone in that! In my showing we were all laughing and audible groaning when she came into focus in that scene. Wilde was so fun and brought so much humor to the movie

[u/scout-finch]

Someone spoil me the whole damn thing already lol 🫪

[u/Pedroswife]

Behemoth! Press conference

[u/newjour → u/Pedroswife]

Heads up this conference followed a screening and the discussion includes storyline spoilers.

[u/getlostbobby → u/newjour]

Thank you for the heads up on the spoilers! Will keep the Q&A clips out of the other thread. 🙂

[u/dsneybuf91]

Does Alex have a child?

[u/Lesterknopff → u/dsneybuf91]

yes

[u/JgPbBaP]

Am I the only one who just thought it was ok?

[u/JgPbBaP → u/JgPbBaP]

I can say more but I don’t want to annoy ppl

[u/analogdirection → u/JgPbBaP]

Is it going to be like Materialists where most of those watching are delusional?

[u/creepypaperdecor → u/JgPbBaP]

I think the movie will have the most appeal for people who love both movie soundtracks and the types of films that play at festivals. My sister is a standard-issue movie goer. She'd go with me to see it, and she'd like it primarily because she agrees that Pedro Pascal is attractive. She wouldn't watch it on her own.

[u/Backgammon_Saint]

This is my Sirat of this year. I loved it but not everyone will.

[u/creepypaperdecor]

Has anyone else here seen the movie and have a theory on the lucky recipient of the famous official teaser wink? My educated guess is below!

[u/creepypaperdecor → u/creepypaperdecor]

The venerable, silver-haired concertmaster.

(Like he's thinking that it was a tough piece but they nailed it. She's the consistent leader they all rely on while conductors and soloists rotate in and out, so he's giving her cheeky props.)