The Surfer – Review

Many viewers will not like this film, as it is designed to rile you up, smash all of your buttons, piss you off, give you anxiety, and boil your blood. Sounds like an okay time? No? Well, you can skip it then. Yes? Well, give it a shot, but know what it coming…

A man, The Surfer (Cage), heads with his son (Little) to the idyllic Australian beach at Luna Bay featuring gorgeous water and insane views. He has a big surprise for his boy. He makes a quick phone call to his broker, and is working to secure $1.7 million for a house on the cliff which used to belong to his long-deceased father. There is a competing offer however…

That’s okay, as the man is sure he has the funds needed and can make it work. He and his kid don their wetsuits and grab their boards to hit the waves. They talk over Christmas planning, but on the way to the water are met by a rude local who tells them to fuck off. It matters not, once he gets to the sand, the Surfer basks in the glory of the area.

But… then other locals run up, threatening him. “Don’t live here, don’t surf here.” Then, a man named Scott Callahan, aka Scally, comes up to talk. He also reinforces that no one can surf here, other than the usual neighbors, despite it being a public beach. He suggests other surf and includes subtle threats.

The Surfer just wanted to show his son the clifftop drive home that he is buying, since it’s not just any home and is more of a family memory. The beach is a special place for him from his childhood. It was magic when he was young, and he used to hit the waves constantly.

Seems reasonable enough, other than some dickhead local “bay boy” dudes. After dropping his son with his ex-wife, he returns to securing his home, looking to free up all the capital needed. This is where things begin to roll downhill, and fast, with a course to head directly off the rails. Tensions begin ratcheting upwards, and show no sign of slowing. Will this Surfer dude have the resolve to get his dream accomplished, or will the townsfolk ruin his fantasy?

The Surfer is absolute madness. If you think you’ve had a bad day before, it is likely not much compared to this bonkers story. The script is designed to crush your soul as you watch this descent into insanity. One moment after the next is another kick to the gut. As the situation gets nutty, so does Nic Cage.

There are some themes at play, and hints at the “reasoning” behind the behaviors present sprinkled into the narrative. The acting is pretty good and the subtle directing allows this pot to boil over. The tensions will likely drive some viewers mad. As lifelong goals are within reach, the utter frustration of losing out on them is rubbed in the viewer’s face, again and again. This man’s world continues to crumble in all ways possible. That can be hard to handle, but at least this is fiction.

So, despite all of that, I thought this was a pretty effective flick. I could handle the awkwardness and the downbeat plot, but the anxiety did set in a bit during a few moments. It was a good mix of chaos and insanity with a simple story and a crazy ass ending. The production is quality, even if you wind up disliking it.

You can’t stop a wave, it’s pure energy.

This film is tough to compare to others, so below is a best shot at similar frustrating atmospheres.