Summary

A Different Man explores the consequences of pretending to be someone you’re not, but the execution lacks emotional depth. The film prioritizes plot over character, resulting in a detached and hollow conclusion. While the film has moments of dark humor and surprise, it lacks sincerity and fails to be as profound as it aims to be.

We have all put on figurative masks throughout our lives, depending on the situation we might find ourselves in at any given point. A Different Man uses a literal mask, but the point is no less pertinent. But the film, written and directed by Aaron Schimberg, suggests that pretending to be someone you’re not is ultimately a chore, and a decision that will come back to haunt you. But while the premise is thought-provoking, the execution leaves much to be desired. Oscillating between being darkly funny and thrilling, the tonal shifts and lack of feeling don’t work in its favor.

A Different Man is a thriller written and directed by Aaron Schimberg and premiered in 2024. An actor named Edward attempts to make himself a more marketable actor by having significant reconstructive surgery on his face, but the results leave much to be desired. Now, having lost the role of his dreams, Edward takes extreme measures to get it back as his obsession turns dark. ProsThe film can be darkly funny A Different Man has a point to make ConsThere’s a sense of detachment to everything The last half of the film will test your patience The film lacks proper emotion The story really drags

A Different Man Makes A Good Point, But It’s Detached
A Different Man lingers on Edward’s (Sebastian Stan) sad life at the start. He’s a loner, his disfigured face the center of mocking attention and horrific glances. His apartment is in complete disarray, the ceiling a black moldy mess that continuously leaks. The state of Edward’s apartment reflects his state of mind, as he’s disinterested in engaging with anyone. Until his new neighbor, Ingrid (The Worst Person in the World’s Renate Reinsve), takes interest. That doesn’t last long because a procedure literally gives him a new face, one he believes will allow him to achieve ambitions he’s only dreamed about.

It leads to a conclusion that is hollow, perhaps because Edward himself seems devoid of any genuine emotion. Often, he feels like an idea, a canvas the film can paint on.

The film ponders whether we would be happy being someone else. After all, the grass is supposed to be greener on the other side, right? But Edward quickly realizes that being “Guy” makes his life all the more complicated because he leads with dishonesty. How can he be himself when he’s pretending to be someone he’s not? In a twist, Adam Pearson’s Oswald, who is also facially disfigured, is leading a full life with friends and activities and love. Edward is jealous and angry because he feels like he’s being booted from the life he thought he would lead — as well as the play Ingrid writes that’s based on him.

On the surface, Schimberg’s film can be insightful. The story doesn’t linger in what could have easily become a sorrowful affair. Its dark humor keeps the momentum going, and it contains a couple of surprising and interesting turns that mix things up, so we’re never quite sure where the story is truly headed. But there’s also a sense of detachment, a psychological thriller that doesn’t fully explore Edward’s interiority. It leads to a conclusion that is hollow, perhaps because Edward himself seems devoid of any genuine emotion. Often, he feels like an idea, a canvas the film can paint on.

The Film Prioritizes Plot Over Character
In this instance, it’s the plot over character that drives the film to its ending, and it’s difficult to reconcile what the film wants to be with what it actually is. A Different Man can be quite messy at times, and it becomes tedious to watch after a certain point. But the lack of emotion is at the heart of its problems. I understood the message, but I never cared enough about Edward to be invested in his life or its outcome. Stan does what he can, but even his performance comes off as emotionally distant and stilted.

The film’s point is a good one, but it doesn’t bring enough sincerity or feeling to the table for us to latch onto. It can get increasingly ridiculous and, though it’s also bold on occasion, the story needed some polishing, especially as it deviates from being a thriller, its score being the thing most dedicated to reminding us it is. And while A Different Man attempts to be a thought-provoking work some of the time, it’s not as deep or as profound as it aims to be.

A Different Man premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.

Release Date January 21, 2024 Director Aaron Schimberg Runtime 112 Minutes Writers Aaron Schimberg Studio(s) Killer Films , Grand Motel Films Distributor(s) A24