By Mashable | Created at 2025-02-26 18:07:45 | Updated at 2025-03-10 07:27:37
1 week ago
Ride the wave into this psychological trip.
If you're in the mood for watching Nicolas Cage waging war on hostile Australian surfers who stole his board, ride this wave all the way to the trailer above.
The Surfer, directed by Lorcan Finnegan (Nocebo, Vivarium) and written by Thomas Martin, is a psychological thriller and coastal Western that's more than it appears on the surface. Set in the fictional beachside suburb of Luna Bay, Western Australia, the film sees Cage slowly melting into his signature brand of unhinged rage as he attempts to retrieve his board from a threatening gang of boardriders led by Julian McMahon.
As I wrote in my review for the film, "Everything about The Surfer's one-line pitch sounds ridiculous (Nicolas Cage versus mean Australian surfers), but the film itself is a haunting set piece about localism, repressed memory, and toxic masculinity, boasting the wild ride we've come to associate with Cage. It's as far from a wipeout as you can get."
The Surfer hits cinemas May 2.
Shannon Connellan is Mashable's UK Editor based in London, formerly Mashable's Australia Editor, but emotionally, she lives in the Creel House. A Tomatometer-approved critic, Shannon writes about everything (but not anything) across entertainment, tech, social good, science, and culture. Especially Australian horror.
These newsletters may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. By clicking Subscribe, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
