Sexy Beast 4K 2000 Ultra HD 2160p

Young music video director Jonathan Glazer, no doubt mindful of the very recent success of one of his colleagues named Guy—known for *Cards, Money*, and other works—directed his own film in 2000 with the unusually shocking title “Sexy Beast.”

The scorching sun of southern Spain stretches its tentacles like a fiery octopus over everything around it. A drowsy man lying on a lounge chair. A bottle of that much-desired cold beer. At a time like this, even thoughts roll by reluctantly, lazily, demanding that the body simply remain in a state of eternal relaxation. A retired thief named Gal would love for this state to be permanent; however, a very tangible shadow from the past named Don Logan bursts into his former partner’s idyllic life like a raging tornado, insisting on one more “last job.”

If we set aside Gal’s criminal past for a moment, his entire interaction with Don can be metaphorically compared to the temptation of a righteous man by a messenger of the Devil (who, in this story, also has a very concrete embodiment). As a true spawn of Hell, Don will stop at nothing to achieve his goal. His tongue threatens, flatters, scorns, lulls, and lies, pouring poison into their ears. The villain possesses an aura that seems to overwhelm everything around him, forcing people to utter his name in a hushed whisper, for fear of rousing the devil.

The tension, sparking between the characters, heats the sweltering Spanish atmosphere to a fever pitch. The jagged words flying from the tempter’s mouth seem to crumple Gal’s seemingly solid defenses, as he visibly shrinks in stature before the demon’s gleaming eyes. The psychedelic, demonic visions that come to Gal in his dreams give way to a jarring reality featuring a very tangible demon sitting across the table. The idea of powerlessness in the face of one’s past—in the face of a fateful chain of events that brings back shadows you thought you’d long since forgotten—is distinctly imbued with Kafkaesque motifs.

The shift in setting from sunny Spain to damp England feels like a plunge into icy water for Gal. This is his final trial, one that determines not only his future life but also his inner balance. Ultimately, by bringing the story full circle, the director seems to make us question the hero’s righteousness. Did he find what he wanted? Did he manage to tame the demons within himself? And, most importantly, at what cost did he achieve all this?

The director, while not exactly, still brings to mind the aforementioned Guy Ritchie. There’s the musical score, consisting entirely of garage punk rock, light trip-hop, and electronic motifs; there’s the running rabbit; and, at times, mixed music-video-style cinematography with split-second cuts from face to face. The influence is noticeable, but it doesn’t make the film derivative.

Glazer’s creation is a thoroughly original work, with a deep psychological dimension, featuring the Kingsley-Winston-McShane trio, who demonstrate a truly complete transformation into their characters, a distinctive style, and a certain English charm set against the backdrop of the Spanish countryside.