Mikes Film Talk

The 2024 production of Humane is not really humane at all. Described as a horror/thriller, it comes across more as a dark comedy. It is ironic that the world, in reality, is suffering a “baby slump.” No one is having babies, or at least the birth rate is s0 low that experts are concerned;

Sure climate change is a thing and we d0 have a planet that can really only hold a finite amount of people.

But.

The Story

Climate change means that the world cannot produce enough of anything. The world has decided they have to cut the population down be 20%. In The US, the government are asking folks to “enlist” in an euthanasia program that pays the conscript’s survivors a lump sum of money.

Presumably to buy things that do not exist.

Charles drops the bomb that he and Dawn (Uni Park) have enlisted in the euthanasia program. His family are less than pleased at this news.

The Main Cast

Jay Baruchel is Jay York. Son of:

Charles York: Peter Gallagher

Emily Hampshire is Rachel wife of Jay.

Sebastian Chacon is Noah, the adopted son of Charles and brother to Jay and

Ashley: Alanna Bale

Enrico Colantoni is Bob. Leader of the goon squad who either collect or kill and collect the volunteers who want to “help” their family.

Behind the Scienes

Caitlin Cronenberg (Daughter of David.) takes the script written by Michael Sparaga and spins this dark and often funny story brilliantly. The script is very good. It contains a brilliant cast of characters. Noah has a drug problem. He has finally gotten clean. Charles and Dawn are both public figures. One an anchorman, the other a famous chef.

Jay is a politician and Ashley is a struggling actor.

Charles is amazingly naive despite covering the news for years and Jay has his own form of naivety.

Humane as a title is a complete dichotomy. As this film progresses the family and the goon squad are anything but humane.

Kudos

First off, I have to give kudos to the young actor Sirena Gulamgaus as the youngest member of the York family. Sirena has excellent bona fides and these explain her outstanding capability to make her “York” so believable.

It was great to see personal favorite Enrico Colantoni. He was beyond brilliant in Galaxy Quest as the alien leader; Mathesar. In Humane, his Bob, has layers. A lot of them.

In Humane, Bob is the congenial leader doing a rough job. But when Dawn does a runner, his true personality comes to the fore. He demands a replacement as soon as possible. Someone else must fill a body bag.

Things get messy.

The Verdict

I can easily give Humane 4 out of 5 stars. The acting holds up pretty well and the violent chaos toward the end definitely works well. However, the film loses an entire star as it feels very contrived. Seriously? Every film right now about “moneyed” have families that are dysfunctional. The Yorks, however, take the cake. In other words, there is dysfunctional and there is the York family.

Still the film works and it entertains. Humane is currently streaming on AMC+.

The Trailer

Michael Knox-Smith

29 August 2024