Unpacking the Nightmarish Odyssey of 'Beau Is Afraid'

Writer-director Ari Aster's latest film, "Beau Is Afraid," is a three-hour horror-comedy fantasia that falls short of expectations. Starring Joaquin Phoenix, the film follows a middle-aged man who is afraid of almost everything, including his mother. Divided into four chapters, the film is a surreal mayhem of bludgeoning Freudian nightmares, with countless references to earlier movies. While Aster's formidable skill is evident, the film becomes thuddingly repetitive and lacks character development.