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Watching “Beef,” the brand new sequence from longtime author Lee Sung Jin produced by A24, is like observing a trainwreck. Only, as an alternative of it being an accident that appears to come back out of nowhere, two totally different drivers are working separate locomotives hurtling towards one another. They might slam on the brakes or change to a distinct observe at any time, but they’re hellbent on destroying the opposite. Regardless of whether or not it brings concerning the annihilation of their very own life, they simply maintain going sooner and sooner towards a closing collision. Yet, as they get nearer and nearer, there may be the sensation that every driver could also be extra much like the opposite than they’re totally different. By the time they notice this, it could be too late to avert the approaching disaster. It is morbidly entertaining, sure, but in addition melancholic.
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The drivers on this case, Steven Yeun’s Danny and Ali Wong’s Amy, aren’t working trains. Rather, it begins with the 2 in vehicles and getting right into a close to accident within the confines of a parking zone the place Danny was backing up, and Amy was driving by. The former stopped on the sound of the latter’s horn, however the disaster is simply simply starting. Without ever seeing the opposite particular person driving, rage consumes them each. After Amy flips off Danny, he begins pursuing her by means of visitors. Nearly getting himself and others killed, it ends along with her nearly hitting him earlier than dashing away. Danny memorizes her license plate, which he then makes use of to search out her and get again at her. When he does so, she goes again after him, he after her, time and again, spherical and spherical. As every part continues to escalate, what begins as a darkish comedy threatens to turn into a tragedy. With each needle drop, of which there are numerous, comes a way that issues are spiraling uncontrolled. In the tenuous lifetime of two individuals, a sequence of existential truths are teased out.
The exact escalations begin out foolish, even infantile, however quickly turn into one thing extra sinister. Danny urinating throughout Amy’s lavatory is met along with her vandalizing his truck he makes use of for work. Yet these are the identical places that can turn into altogether devastating, ratcheting up the strain till a grim, sinking feeling replaces the earned laughs that have been had initially. Discussing principally any plot particulars of this might rob the sequence of its influence as it’s a exactly constructed thriller along with being a personality research primarily based upon how far every will go. There are moments the place it looks like issues might by some means stabilize for every, just for it to explode. With each choice Danny and Amy make to not take the numerous off-ramps obtainable to them, the extra it attracts you in. The approach it pulls collectively is messy, in a approach it doesn’t all the time have a deal with on, however the reflections delivered to life by the 2 leads make for one thing mesmerizing. Each has finished nice work earlier than, however this sequence sees them actually letting free.
Both play profoundly flawed and damaged individuals, able to cruelty simply as they’re compassion. Danny cares deeply for his brother Paul (Young Mazino) although is commonly harsh to him, believing that that is the one approach to assist him learn to navigate a painful world. Yeun is as spectacular as ever within the function, embodying the character’s fragile emotional state in each sudden outburst. Whether it’s when Danny mutters artistic vulgarities to himself whereas driving or when he breaks down crying in any respect he has needed to carry, we come to know him by means of even the small moments. Just seeing him eat quick meals or attempt to strike up a dialog with a bartender is illuminating. Though vastly totally different in presentation and pacing, it’s a character that feels just like the one he truly performed in opposition to within the spectacular 2018 movie “Burning.” Danny is struggling to outlive, usually due to the numerous forces exterior his management. The approach Yeun is ready to seize that is nothing in need of riveting, simply as it’s ridiculous.
Similarly, Wong brings a lot to the character in simply the little methods she responds to issues. Though much better off than Danny, Amy has solely gotten there by destroying a lot of what it’s she wished for her life. She desires to spend extra time along with her daughter June (Remy Holt) and husband George (Joseph Lee) although she nonetheless has to promote her firm so as to take action. This is the dream, however we see in her each pained expression that this may not be sufficient to make her joyful. As we hear a number of instances all through the sequence, “there is always something” that may fully strip away their slivers of pleasure. Even when it looks like Amy is on the verge of a breakthrough, we already know it will get thrown away after we see a selected look creep again throughout Wong’s face. Though her character doesn’t all the time say a lot to precise this, her silence makes all of it that a lot worse, as we will see her frustration beginning to boil over. When it’s launched, it may be cathartic whereas additionally being relatably demoralizing.
It is the performances of Yeun and Wong that make “Beef” work, even because the story could be a bit scattered the longer it goes on. This reaches a breaking level within the closing episodes that basically go off the rails, shifting from being a extra grounded sequence of escalations into a very chaotic spectacle. Yet even because the story goes off a cliff, being in freefall with Danny and Amy is exactly the purpose. No matter how a lot they flounder about, there’s something stunning about seeing their descent. United by a crushing despair and darkness that can be the place they’re most themselves, there’s a lingering hope being performed with in whether or not they may be capable to discover a approach ahead with out destroying one another. As their revenge schemes turn into extra elaborate, so does the portrait being painted.
This all takes on a extra oddly candy and mawkish tone, every aspect sneaking up on the story amidst the bleakness that’s grabbing maintain of it. As the boundaries between Danny and Amy are pulled aside, every rising extra intently entangled with the lifetime of the opposite, it is sort of a cosmic joke in how it began out with such a easy, on a regular basis altercation in a parking zone. There is not any getting back from this second, and, for higher or worse, seeing the duo emerge from it without end modified makes the sequence into one as deeply unhappy as it’s more and more elegant.
For a narrative so outlined by individuals consumed by their hatred of the opposite and, as we come to comprehend, themselves as nicely, there may be simply a lot to like when all else fades away. Much just like the characters themselves, it’s a sequence that’s wrapped in an indignant outer shell that reveals itself to have a compassionate inside that may both break away or be obliterated. Even as you by no means know which is able to find yourself coming to go, you’re locked in for the experience. [A-]
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“Beef” debuts on Netflix on April 6.
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