In partnership with Universal Pictures UK
In Eddington, the latest film from visionary director Ari Aster (Hereditary, Midsommar), nothing and no one is quite what they seem. It’s 2020 in the remote New Mexico town of (you guessed it) Eddington, and social distancing restrictions are threatening to divide a tight-knit community. Meanwhile, the burgeoning Black Lives Matter has been adopted – or perhaps co-opted – by the town’s younger population.
Keen to kindle this tinderbox is renegade Sheriff Joe Cross, who launches a bid to become Eddington’s mayor by unseating the liberal incumbent, Ted Garcia. Ted, however, won’t be going down without a fight. Ahead of its release in cinemas on August 22, here’s a guide to Eddington‘s main players, and their not-so-thinly veiled hidden agendas.
As a hapless bee found at the Cannes Festival – you’ve seen the viral video on TikTok, right? – this film has quite the cast.
Joe Cross
Eddington’s conservative Sheriff who’s no fan of masks
Played by: Academy Award-winning Joaquin Phoenix (Joker, Walk The Line)
What they pretend to want: Joe views himself as a community servant who is really sticking it to the man. Why should Ted Garcia and his tech cronies dictate what goes on in Eddington? And why should its citizens have to wear masks when there’s no sign of disease in the vicinity? He has a clear sense of purpose and won’t let anyone stand in his way.
What they really want: Joe hopes to see Eddington thriving again – the empty streets make his heart sink. But he also has a taste for power: when the mayorship looks within reach, he’s prepared to go to extreme lengths.
Ted Garcia
Eddington’s progressive and coolly charismatic mayor
Played by: the internet’s current boyfriend Pedro Pascal (The Last Of Us, The Mandalorian)
What they pretend to want: Ted does want what’s best for the people of Eddington, just as long as it correlates with his vision for the town’s future. He has no time for troublemakers who refuse to wear state-mandated masks.
What they really want: To drag sleepy Eddington into the 21st century by attracting a new artificial intelligence data centre, but also to boost his own standing by getting close to the tech bros. If pushed, he’ll bare his fangs.
Louise Cross
Joe’s reclusive and emotionally unavailable wife
Played by: Oscar-winning icon Emma Stone (La La Land, Poor Things)
What they pretend to want: Louise may think she craves a quiet life with her husband, which is why she opposes Joe’s mayoral bid so vehemently. But whether she knows it or not, she’s actually looking for something deeper.
What they really want: Louise desperately needs someone to help her process childhood trauma that her mother refuses to engage with, and Joe doesn’t appear to understand.
Dawn
Louise’s omnipresent mother, who lives with her daughter and Joe
Played by: always dependable character actress Deirdre O’Connell (Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind)
What they pretend to want: Dawn has thrown herself into a conspiracy theory rabbit hole and wants to drag Louise down with her. She does seem to want what’s best for her daughter, as long as it doesn’t clash with her idealised version of their early family life.
What they really want: Dawn would love her son-in-law to admit he could have done more to save her late husband, who died on the job while Joe was his deputy. She’s also less chaotic than she initially seems.
Vernon Jefferson Peak
A cult leader with an online following who claims to be a survivor of sex trafficking
Played by: the coolest man in all Hollywood, Austin Butler (Elvis, Dune: Part Two)
What they pretend to want: Vernon’s self-imposed mission involves encouraging his followers, including Louise, to embrace their trauma so they can stop living in shame. He’s enigmatic but incredibly persuasive.
What they really want: Vernon is too smart to let his guard down, but like all cult leaders, his ego is far from undeveloped. If no one was listening to his message, would he still be spreading it?
Sarah Allen
A teenage social justice warrior who lives to protest
Played by: rising star Amélie Hoeferle (Night Swim)
What they pretend to want: Sarah is desperate for everyone in Eddington to get behind the Black Lives Matter movement. She also wants every white member of its population – her included – to acknowledge their privilege.
What they really want: Sarah knows she doesn’t belong at the centre of the Black Lives Matter movement – and will say as much when she’s given the chance. But secretly, she’d love for someone (anyone, really) to congratulate her on being a great activist.
Eric Garcia
Ted’s teenage son, who was raised by his father after his mother walked out
Played by: talented newcomer Matt Gomez Hidaka (Silo)
What they pretend to want: Eric protects his father’s political interests and doesn’t complain about featuring in campaign videos – Ted has leveraged his lone father status to appear likeable. However, Eric might be slightly less loyal to his friend Brian.
What they really want: Eric is sick of being told what to do, especially by Ted. At a time when his peers are bending social distancing rules so they can meet for beers in the park, Eric has no intention of leading by example.
Brian
Eric’s somewhat transparent best mate
Played by: fresh faced Cameron Mann (Mare Of Easttown)
What they pretend to want: Brian gets involved with the local Black Lives Matter movement to impress Sarah, though she’s shown no sign of being interested in him yet. His activism is shallow as a puddle, though he’ll happily parrot what he’s learned to his parents.
What they really want: Brian may seem impressionable and easily led, but don’t underestimate his ambition and opportunistic streak.
‘Eddington’ opens in UK cinemas on August 22