The Outer Limits
The Outer Limits:
I first heard about ‘The Coffee Table’ (2022) when the hosts of the ‘Nightmare on Film Street’ podcast included it in their list of best movies from 2024. And as is so often the case, it began to pop up everywhere. Mentions in other podcasts. References to it in other reviews. Vague discussion across social media.
“Have you seen it?” “It was so disturbing!” “I can’t believe they went there!” “I hated it!” “I loved it!” “I’ll never watch it again.” “I’ll never forget it.”
I knew nothing about the movie except it was a dark comedy. The official synopsis tells us: “Jesus and Maria are a couple who have just become parents, and they decide to buy a new coffee table, a decision that will change their existence.” Admit it. You’re intrigued too aren’t you?
When I saw that it was streaming on Shudder this month I knew it was time to see what the hype was about. My husband was considering joining me on the couch. I warned him about what I’d heard. He smiled knowingly, wished me luck, and excused himself to the safety of our bedroom. Left on my own, I settled onto the couch under my favorite blanket (pattern inspired by the rug from ‘The Shining’) and pushed play.
They hadn’t lied. The movie is pitch black in tone. It is the darkest of dark comedies. Violently eliciting laughs mostly in an instinctive effort to process the horrors slowly unfolding on the screen. It is true that I will never forget this movie. It is also true that I wish I’d never watched it.
‘The Coffee Table’ is an extremely thoughtful film. While the content may be disturbing, it is clear that the filmmakers chose to tackle this plot deliberately and with purpose. The acting is excellent and I was riveted to my seat. But as is said so often in the therapy room, two things can be true. It was exquisitely made. And a film that I did not enjoy at all.
Art is subjective. I am happy to disagree with others about the merits and quality of movies. But the horror genre poses an interesting dilemma. The purpose of horror is often to push us to our limits and challenge us with difficult material. So I find it particularly curious to explore those times when horror crosses a line that even an avid fan finds distasteful. What does it say about the film and more importantly what does it say about the viewer?
All consumers of horror will have different boundaries. This may depend upon life experiences, personal fears and anxieties or stage of life. One of the qualities I value in horror is its ability to help us stretch our boundaries and explore our fears. But not all boundaries need to be pushed. As I told a client recently: Most of us can live a long and happy life with a fear of clowns. Most of us wouldn’t need to address it therapeutically or otherwise. Unless perhaps your dream is to attend clown college! We wouldn’t need to run to the video store to grab a copy of ‘Killer Klowns from Outer Space’ (1988) in order to challenge these fears.
A fear of dentists might be another matter. Dental hygiene is critical to our health and well-being. Being scared to visit the dentist (odontophobia for anyone who is curious) could have genuine consequences. So for some, a viewing of ‘The Dentist’ (1996) is, please pardon the pun but I can’t help myself, just what the doctor ordered. Watching such a film can help us to face our fears in a way that allows us to maintain control. We can pause the movie. We can take a moment to breathe and ground ourselves before continuing. We can step away from the movie and finish it another time. With enough practice and exposure one might find themselves settling comfortably in the dentist's chair confident that they’ve seen far worse and lived to tell the tale.
Much like our dental check-up, death is another experience which none of us can avoid. Horror can be instrumental in encouraging a healthy exploration of this dark mirror to life. I am sure that this was one intention behind the creation of ‘The Coffee Table’. To open a window into a kind of death which even the horror genre tends to avoid. And here I must spoil the most important plot point of the film so please stop reading here and come back later if you want to experience the film purely…
…’The Coffee Table’ centers around the catastrophic and violent death of Jesus and Maria’s newborn infant. The topic is tackled in such a direct and unflinching way that the viewer scarcely knows where to look. As is the experience of the characters in the film, there is no escape for the viewer. The graphic loss is always lingering at the edges of the screen and the tension only mounts as the film continues. This is where personal experiences and stage of life become very important in the experience of the film. I can imagine a broad spectrum of reactions to this plot point ranging from powerful trauma to deep catharsis. For myself, as the father to a 5-year-old son, this is a theme I simply did not need to explore. For me there was no benefit to exposing myself to such content other than to experience disturbance for the sake of disturbance.
A review of online responses to this film shows that I may be in the minority. So many viewers seem to have found the experience profound and thought-provoking and even darkly entertaining. I am not one to judge the tastes of others. But it is important to know when you will not experience something the same way. And no shame in avoiding it.
As with all forms of art, film can be powerful, profound, and not for you. It is easy to see the responses of other fans and critics and pressure yourself to engage with media that you may have an adverse reaction to. In such situations I ask myself one question: Does it serve me? The answer to this question tells us everything about how to proceed.
The original ‘Hear No Evil’ (2022), not to be confused with the recent release starring James McAvoy, is another movie that features graphic violence directed at young children. It was an incredibly difficult viewing experience. More so than ‘The Coffee Table’ in my humble opinion. But I am infinitely glad to have seen it. It served a purpose for me. The movie helped me explore themes of masculinity, parenting and the cost of placing personal comfort over the needs of myself and my family. These are ideas that I will carry with me and have helped me evolve as a person and as a father. The distress of watching the film was challenging. But I grew from it.
In a genre that seeks to shock and challenge us, we should always question whether our journey to the limits of comfort serves us. The benefit does not need to be profound or lead to personal growth. Entertainment, fun or curiosity are equally valid reasons to explore what the horror genre has to offer us. But personal growth and joy can be the anchor by which we navigate our media choices. Because life is too short and our wellness is too precious to spend on something that does not add to the tapestry of our life. So go ahead and put ‘The Coffee Table’ on if you choose. I’ll just excuse myself here and head up early to bed!
Media & Notes:
Film:
Casas, Caye. (2022). The Coffee Table.
Tafdrup, Christian. (2022). Speak No Evil.
Chiodo, Stephen. (1988). Killer Klowns from Outer Space.
Yuzna, Brian. (1996). The Dentist.
Podcasts: