Flux Gourmet – Movie Review (2/5)

FLUX GOURMET is the new Peter Strickland movie, and it’s definitely easy to recognize his style. If you’re familiar with this filmmaker, you’ll know this is a genre-bender. An intriguing watch but I prefer other movies from him. Read our full Flux Gourmet movie review here!

FLUX GOURMET is a new comedy, drama, and horror hybrid of a movie. It’s from filmmaker Peter Strickland, who always makes movies that are crazy genre-benders. And, well, often just full of craziness, symbolism, and social commentary.

This one is no exception. However, unlike some of his earlier movies, this one feels even more slow-burn. You can find our review of Strickland’s previous film In Fabric (2018) right here >

Continue reading our Flux Gourmet movie review below. The film is out in theaters and On-Demand from June 24, 2022.

A strong cast – as always!

As always with Peter Strickland movies, the cast consists of familiar faces from either Strickland’s own movies or other big pop culture hits. This time, the very familiar face from his own world of cinema is Fatma Mohamed who is always part of his cast.

From the pop culture world, we have Gwendoline Christie from Game of Thrones and Star Wars. She was also in his previous movie.

Another key character is played by Asa Butterfield from the Netflix hit series Sex Education and absolutely brilliant performances as a child actor. He played the title character in Martin Scorsese’s Hugo (2011) and a leading character in The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (2011). More recently, we saw him in the Netflix horror movie Choose or Die.

In Flux Gourmet, Asa Butterfield plays a character that is clearly meant to be a walking stereotype in some ways. And also, a sweetheart and still searching for his identity in other ways.

Is Flux Gourmet a horror movie?

Ahh yes, the age-old question: What is a horror movie? So many (many!) times, we’re confronted with the old “that’s not a horror movie”. Often, the full version of this is “Well, I wasn’t frightened in the least, so it wasn’t a horror movie”.

Well, while much can be said about the whole “in the eye of the beholder”, it’s always about the filmmaker. Officially, Flux Gourmet is a horror movie. However, it is also a comedy and a drama.

To me, this is as much a horror movie as it is a comedy. Spoiler alert: I don’t really think it’s a comedy!

Selling this movie as being in the genre of “horror” will no doubt lead to disappointment for most horror fans. This is a Peter Strickland movie first and foremost.

Is there horror in it? Sure, to a point. Not much though.

However, there are many grotesque and terrible elements in the story. The constant discomfort of someone struggling with the digestive system is a big issue. Now, that can certainly feel like downright horror when you’re in the throes of it.

You can watch Flux Gourmet now!

Anyone familiar with Peter Strickland will immediately be able to recognize his style as a filmmaker. Flux Gourmet is a Peter Strickland film through and through. So, if you’re familiar with him and enjoy his style of filmmaking, then, by all means, go for it!

However, if you’re not familiar with his particular style, then try out In Fabric first. It’s still made in his special style. Something that comes across in both audio and visual choices, as well as characters, portrayals, and tempo. However, it is easier to watch and enjoy.

Well, I found In Fabric to be a better film, in any case. Still, Flux Gourmet did fascinate me immensely. For the first hour or so. Then my mind started to drift and wander, which is never a good thing. A runtime of 1 hour and 51 minutes just proved too long for me.

Essentially, while this was an intriguing watch, I’m not completely sold on it.

Flux Gourmet is out in theaters and On-Demand from June 24, 2022.

Details

Director: Peter Strickland
Writer: Peter Strickland
Cast: Asa Butterfield, Gwendoline Christie, Ariane Labed, Fatma Mohamed, Makis Papadimitriou, Richard Bremmer, Leo Bill