Beau Is Afraid

Joaquin Phoenix stars as the lead in A24 film from Hereditary and Midsommar director 

Beau is Afraid is a surrealist black comedy-horror film written and directed by Ari Aster for A24. Aster co-produces the film as well alongside frequent producing partner, Lars Knudsen. Aster is best known for his collaborations with the production company A24, having written and directed two of their most highly acclaimed films with 2018’s Hereditary and Midsommar the following year. Beau is Afraid marks his third directorial effort. His other recurring collaborator, Pawel Pogorzelski, handles cinematography duties on Beau is Afraid after working with Aster on Hereditary and Midsommar. 

Academy Award winner Joaquin Phoenix leads the film as the titular Beau while renowned actress and singer Patti LuPone portrays Beau’s mother, Mona. The rest of the ensemble cast includes Nathan Lane as George, Amy Ryan as Grace, Kylie Rogers as Toni, Parker Posey as Elaine Bray, Stephen McKinley Henderson as the therapist, Hayley Squires as Penelope, Michael Gandolfini, Théodore Pellerin and Mike Taylor as Beau's sons and Richard Kind as Dr. Cohen. The film also contains younger versions of certain characters with Armen Nahapetian portraying a teen Beau, Zoe Lister-Jones as a younger Mona and Julia Antonelli as teen Elaine.