The Cow Review: Winona Ryder Mystery Thriller Intrigues, But Stumbles [SXSW]
Aging has become one of society’s worst enemies. There’s no way to avoid it and yet the capitalistic world would like us to believe there is a way around it — numerous products are sold on the premise they will make one look young again, while ageism remains rampant. The Cow explores the blatant denial of getting older, as well as how far someone is willing to go in a bid to stop the process altogether. The Cow delves into these themes while wading into an intriguing mystery that wraps them together. But while The Cow is bolstered by a fantastic cast and it has plenty of intriguing moments, Eli Horowitz’ directorial debut stumbles in its finale.
Kath (Winona Ryder) is constantly forced to think about her age. When she goes on a weekend getaway to a cabin with her younger boyfriend Max (John Gallagher Jr.), Kath is immediately confronted about their age difference and why she’s with Max at all. These observations come from Greta (Brianne Tju) and Al (Owen Teague), a young couple who are suspiciously at the cabin when Kath and Max arrive. After a couple of awkward and uncomfortable conversations, Kath goes to bed — at 10:30pm, which is (gasp) so old, apparently. She’s in for a rude awakening, however, when Al reveals Max and Greta hooked up and left together, which irks Kath completely before she packs up and heads back to her place. But after a quick call to the cabin’s owner, Nicholas Barlow (Dermot Mulroney), Kath befriends him only to discover there is something far stranger going on.
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Horowitz co-wrote the screenplay with Matthew Derby and they infuse The Cow with a number of great themes and ideas. Age is something all of the
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