In the 80's and 90's, there was no one cooler than Winona Ryder. She proved to be a defining voice of Gen X in films like Beetlejuice, Heathers, and Reality Bites, with her snarled quip, crooked grin, and piercing stare. Even though she grew up, she got old. From unflappable It Girl to harried mom, her casting niche shifted. She has maintained her cool. In her latest film, The Cow, she brings an extra edge to a deep-cut exploration into our fear of growing old and uncool.
The Cow begins with a May-December couple whose relationship has gotten rocky. Kath is a middle-aged botanist who enjoys wine-fueled dinner parties with her intellectual friends. Max, her younger boyfriend, is petulant in such settings. His hobbies include designer ball caps, dive bars, and taunting Kath's friends. A weekend away to a cabin was supposed to be a chance to get to know one another. When a couple of surly twentysomethings party-crash, Kath is forced to face some unpleasant truths about her relationship.
Kath learns that Max ran off with the other woman, Brianne Tju, after a night of awkwardness and flirting. Bereft and bewildered, she tries to make sense of this betrayal, which leads her to the cabin's grizzled but sophisticated owner, Nicholas. He makes a strong impression with his salt-and-pepper hair, deep voice, and appreciation for making fools of young men. The script by Horowitz and Matthew Derby is a departure from rom-com territory with a sprinkling of sci-fi elements and a series of flashbacks.
The Cow is a lot of fun to watch, so it's not worth giving away its true premise or title. It could be called a dark rom-com, a horror-thriller, or a sci-fi drama, but not entirely. The final act of the film is so twisted that it makes it all the more haunting.
Kath is not a goth teen or a mean girl. She is very common. Kath could be any of us. She was cool years ago, and the constant reminders of that sting. She chased after her youth by chasing a young lover, but was frustrated by his lack of maturity and stability. When she sees Nicholas, the handsome man of the woods, it seems she has found the perfect partner. There are hidden thorns in this tale.
It is not possible to predict where The Cow will take us. Kath was incorrigibly curious and onboard for the ride. The supporting cast of Gallagher, Tju, Mulroney, and Owen Teague create a landscape of generational attitudes. Within a tightly knit character drama, The Cow creates a tense discourse about the generation gap, then pushes on the cracks of that conflict to a satirical breaking point of grim but fascinating fantasy.
Through all the twists and turns, we rely on Ryder. She deftly dances through the demand for a joke. She carries with her what it means to be Winona Ryder. The actress looks great at 50 but is older than she was in the 90s. When a snotty club kid points out her age, it's not just because we older audience members might relate, but also because we are talking to a famous person! Have some respect! She smudged her eyeliner so you could run with it.
The Cow's arcs hit all the harder because of a pre-existing bond to Ryder. This clever film encourages us not to relate but to indulge in the fantasy of Kath's adventure because she is playing an everywoman suffering a series of age-related indignities. We want to be in Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice! By the final frame of The Cow, we had enjoyed the ride, but it was also fun. We are left to wonder if we would have followed the same path.
The Cow is a must-see, whether you enjoy great thrills or you worship at the temple of Winona Ryder.
The world premiere of The Cow took place at the South by Southwest festival. The theatrical release date has not been announced.
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