The film starts off in a seemingly ordinary manner but quickly descends into a whirlwind of eccentricity, all revolving around a table and I loved this somewhat unconventional approach to storytelling.
The coffee table itself is quite tacky looking, and María (Estefanía de los Santos) despises it, calling it awful, but Jesús (David Pareja), who is constantly put down by his wife’s mocking laughter, insists on getting it.
Jesús hauls it up to their apartment, which they’re still redecorating for their newborn son, Cayetano. and when he finds a missing screw during assembly, this little problem sets off a series of events, and I cannot say too much as I really don't want to spoil it if you have not seen it! But damn, it turned dark very quick, it's up there with Hereditary in terms of being so dark.
Things go from bad to worse during a dinner party with Jesús’ brother and his new girlfriend, and a neighbor’s 13-year-old daughter who is fixated on Jesús in quite an unsettling way, and over the course of the dinner party, Jesús faces one of the most challenging experiences of his life.The plot is really dark and intriguing and takes plenty of turns and I was absolutely glued to the screen until the end, and you also have plenty of dark humor thrown in too for good measure.
David Pareja delivers a standout performance, as does Estefanía de los Santos, both portraying raw emotion that and both are equally brilliant.
Visually, the film blends psychological tension with everyday life and suspense and some scenes feel like intense dramas, while others dive deep into horror, and the visual effects are used sparingly but effectively.
The Coffee Table is filled with moments that will make you want to look away but you are simply unable to do so and the film’s mix of dread, absurdity, and occasional dark humor makes it a wild anxiety inducing ride.
It is one of the strangest, chaotic and most captivating films I've ever seen, and one that doesn't do much to help any anxiety you may have. but is a film you should definitely watch. It's a slow motion car crash that you can't turn away from, and is a film you will never forget. [The Coffee Table on IMDB]
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