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There are a lot of options when it comes to what to watch in theaters or across the best streaming services this week. But trust me, you need to go watch "The Surfer."
I was lucky enough to catch a screening of this psychological thriller starring Nicolas Cage at the Atlanta Film Festival last week and I had a blast. It's not a perfect movie, but watching Nic Cage lose his mind is a great use of an hour and 43 minutes.
What is 'The Surfer' about?
"The Surfer" stars Nicolas Cage as the Surfer, an anonymous man who has returned to his fictional Australian hometown of Luna Beach. He's close to securing his grandfather's old home on Clifftop Drive, and wants to take his son (Finn Little) out into the waves to check out the ancestral home.
But when he and his son arrive at the beach, they find a gang of locals has claimed it as their own, willing to fight anyone who dares surf their waves.
The Surfer takes his son home, but then returns to the beach, determined to surf. The locals still aren't having it, though, and they start messing with him.
He calls the police, only to discover that the gang is lead by Scally (Julian McMahon), scion to a local land baron and someone the Surfer knew from his childhood in Luna Bay. He also discovers that the Cop (Justin Rosniak) who arrives is part of the gang — the whole town might be.
This movie is 'Point Break' meets an acid trip
Once the Surfer realizes what he's up against, he descends almost completely into madness.
He starts losing possessions one by one and is constantly gaslighted by the gang of locals. He even starts to convince himself that he might be the Bum (Nic Cassim) who haunts the beach, before he finally snaps.
The moment where he snaps is incredible, but it's the descent into madness that will have you enthralled. The score is great, and the cinematography is captivating.
Admittedly, the story may have you lost on occassion, but the performances of Cage as the Surfer and McMahon as Scally, who comes off as a less mysogynist Andrew Tate in a short-sleeved Snuggie, are incredible and watching these two do their dance is worth the price of admission. So go see "The Surfer" in theaters now and have a blast.
Malcolm has been with Tom's Guide since 2022, and has been covering the latest in streaming shows and movies since 2023. He's not one to shy away from a hot take, including that "John Wick" is one of the four greatest films ever made.
Here's what he's been watching lately:
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