‘The Surfer’ (2024)

Following the eponymous Surfer (Nicolas Cage), ‘The Surfer’ is a psychological thriller that recounts the titular characters attempts to surf Luna Bay. Arriving on the scene with his son ‘The Kid’ (Finn Little) the two are met by hostile locals, refusing anyone but the inhabitants of Luna Bay to access the beach. Enraged, The Surfer engages with the local gang leader Scally (Julian McMahon) and his group of thugs the ‘Bay Boys’ in a fierce attempt at reclaiming the sand.

Deciding to camp out in the Luna Bay parking lot after being turned away by the locals, The Surfer is subjected to a series of demeaning and belittling encounters with the Bay Boys. Being stripped of all his status symbols, his car, his watch and even his shoes, The Surfer also endures violent confrontations with the local surf gang, being repeatedly told to leave as he is not local.

A little heavy handed, the thinly veiled analogy for toxic masculinity exercised through the misdeeds of the Bay Boys builds on a progressively frustrating and disturbing experience for The Surfer. Attempting to bring a little stability to his disintegrating life, The Surfer grasps at the opportunity to return to his familial home, trying desperately to secure the funding he needs to purchase his old family home on Luna Bay. 

Learning from The Bum (Nic Cassim) that Scally and his family own most of the land in and around the beach, The Surfer becomes determined to make his wish happen. Deteriorating with each passing day however, exhausted by the sun and severely dehydrated, The Surfer loses himself in psychedelic visions of reality, cracking mentally and breaking down physically. The Surfer snaps and attacks one of the Bay Boys, claiming a right to access the beach.

Having endured Scally’s arduous challenge, The Surfer is accepted into the gang. Channeling the destructive mindset that is so prevalent in contemporary media, the cult status of Scally’s boys telegraphs a poor image of where emasculated men may turn to when coerced into believing that they can only succeed off of the back of someone else failing. Saddening and familiar, the depictions of hazing and mockery instill unease and tension, as reality is unearthed in the film.

Having a lot of direct and many implied comments on toxic masculinity, the film covers in stark detail the impact of violent domination, showing us a gradual breakdown and ultimate submission of The Surfer as he joins the gang, seemingly left with no other alternatives.

After The Surfer has become part of the pack, his life is immediately returned to him, with the conveniences and luxuries of his prior upper-middle-class standing. Now allowed to surf Luna Bay, The Surfer finally takes to the beach with The Kid, adhering to the creed of the pack.

Confronted by The Bum, the haggard and infuriated man faces off against Scally, believing him to be responsible for the death of his son and dog. Pleading for the safe passage for himself and The Kid, The Surfer uses the shark tooth necklace he had taken from The Bum’s broken down station wagon earlier. Having been allowed to leave, The Surfer tells The Kid not to look back, as the The Bum shoots Scally and then himself.

Reflecting heavily on the current state of media, ‘The Surfer’ details a tragedy that touches on toxic masculinity and the cult like status that leaders of ‘alpha’ groups can amass, prying on peoples insecurities and perpetuating damaging ideologies. Depicting the cruelty and disdain to an extreme, ‘The Surfer’ delivers a strong punch, even if at times a punch not aimed at anything in particular.

Score: 3/4