Writer-director Alex Garland's rise in his career has been remarkably evident over the past decade. After frequently collaborating with Danny Boyle as a screenwriter, Garland began to carve out a niche for himself with sci-fi and action films that fit the style of A24. This journey, which started with his directorial debut "Ex Machina" in 2014, provided him opportunities to be involved in many critically acclaimed projects and even earned him the task of adapting Hidetaka Miyazaki and George R. R. Martin's massive video game "Elden Ring".

However, in 2022, Garland released his most controversial and bold film, "Men." This film strayed from his signature style, becoming more bloody and comedic. While "Men" shares similarities with other elevated horror films from A24, it is filled with rich and slightly cursed landscape shots, heavy symbolism, and a menacing score. What sets it apart is its increasing commitment to absurd and bloody effects, which serves as a nod to the era of Brian Yuzna and Stuart Gordon in the 1980s.

When the film's deep searches for meaning are put aside, "Men" dives into increasingly bloody and absurd scenes. The film's climax presents a scene that could easily fit into the famous finale of Yuzna's "Society." While many critics agree that a talented director has missed a great opportunity, for the right audience, this film offers a highly entertaining experience.

Much of "Men" can be perceived as a parody of A24's horror style. The main character Harper (Jessie Buckley) is a young woman who escapes from London to the countryside after her husband commits suicide. However, instead of finding peace in her rural surroundings, she encounters a mysterious naked man who increasingly takes on a plant-like appearance, a domineering landlord, a disturbing young man who wants to play hide and seek, and a seductive priest. All these characters are masterfully portrayed by Buckley's sole co-star Rory Kinnear.