Introduction to The Surfer
With a filmography that bursts with controversial projects, Nicolas Cage is no stranger to sharing opinions. This was the fate of one of his latest films, the psychological thriller The Surfer. A film that was opened to critical recognition in May, but was met with immediate counter-reactions by theater visitors. This divided opinion is best seen on the aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, where The Surfer has an impressive "certified fresh" 84% critics agree, with a poor 46% audience assessment.
The Surfer’s Streaming Success
Four months after the divisive evening cassette debut, one that was too domestic with a return of only 1.3 million US dollars, The Surfer could finally redeem itself in the eyes of the general audience, since it officially hits rare streaming success. At the time of writing, The Surfer is one of the most straight titles on Hulu in the USA. A newcomer to the top charts of the streamer, The Surfer is in an eleventh position, just outside the official top 10. The most viewed film on the platform is currently the Chick Flick Classic Mean Girls, with ABC’s High Potential being the most offset show. For everyone who still catches The Surfer, this is a look at the synopsis of the film:
"In the psychological thriller staged by Lorcan Finnegan, a man returns to the idyllic beach of his childhood to surf with his son. But his wish to hit the waves is thwarted by a group of locals whose mantra is ‘do not live here, surf here.’"
Critical Success
The Surfer was a success in the eyes of critics. Guided by Lorcan Finnegan, The Surfer, before its cinema structure, had a festival run that proved to be wonderfully successful. Such a critic to praise the film was Collider’s Emma Kiely, who in her review called it "a disorienting, manic, common and visceral viewing experience, 99 minutes pure, sun-oriented terror" and compared the film to Ari Aster’s Midsummer. However, Kiely, who only awarded the film 6/10, noticed: "What ultimately weighs it is the lack of a core story to ground the chaos and madness around it."
Streaming Now
The Surfer is streaming now on Hulu. The film’s details are as follows:
- Publication date: May 2, 2025
- Duration: 100 minutes
- Director: Lorcan Finnegan
- Writer: Thomas Martin
- Producers: Robert Connolly, James Harris, Mark Lane, Brunella Cocchiglia, James Granison, Nathan Klingher, Leonora Darby
With its unique blend of psychological thriller elements and surfing, The Surfer is a film that is sure to spark interesting discussions among viewers. Whether you’re a fan of Nicolas Cage or just looking for a thought-provoking film, The Surfer is definitely worth checking out.
