Aging has become one of society’s worst enemies. There’s no way to avoid it and yet the capitalistic world would like us to believe there is a way around it — numerous products are sold on the premise they will make one look young again, while ageism remains rampant. The Cow explores the blatant denial of getting older, as well as how far someone is willing to go in a bid to stop the process altogether. The Cow delves into these themes while wading into an intriguing mystery that wraps them together. But while The Cow is bolstered by a fantastic cast and it has plenty of intriguing moments, Eli Horowitz’ directorial debut stumbles in its finale.
Kath (Winona Ryder) is constantly forced to think about her age. When she goes on a weekend getaway to a cabin with her younger boyfriend Max (John Gallagher Jr.), Kath is immediately confronted about their age difference and why she’s with Max at all. These observations come from Greta (Brianne Tju) and Al (Owen Teague), a young couple who are suspiciously at the cabin when Kath and Max arrive. After a couple of awkward and uncomfortable conversations, Kath goes to bed — at 10:30pm, which is (gasp) so old, apparently. She’s in for a rude awakening, however, when Al reveals Max and Greta hooked up and left together, which irks Kath completely before she packs up and heads back to her place. But after a quick call to the cabin’s owner, Nicholas Barlow (Dermot Mulroney), Kath befriends him only to discover there is something far stranger going on.
Horowitz co-wrote the screenplay with Matthew Derby and they infuse The Cow with a number of great themes and ideas. Age is something all of the characters obsess over in their own ways — be it Kath’s discomfort with the way Max talks about her eyes looking tired or Max feeling closer to Greta because they seem to have more in common precisely because they’re closer in age. At the end of it all, everyone is using each other for something, whether subconsciously or not and it’s in this exploration of relationships and why people are drawn to each other that makes The Cow an interesting watch.
It’s a shame, then, that the film stumbles in its final moments. The mystery of Max’s disappearance is fascinating up until the very end, but then everything is thrown together haphazardly and the film’s entire premise starts to fall apart. The Cow has a lot to say about age and how it affects people, but it only brushes the surface of such a layered topic and never goes any deeper than it has to. Winona Ryder does a lot of the heavy lifting, imbuing Kath with hesitance, showcasing the character's feelings about her relationship with a terse look, weariness, and the relief that letting go can bring. Mulroney is equally good as Nicholas, seemingly sincere and humble. The rest of the cast does well in their supporting roles, especially Brianne Tju, who plays up Greta's youthful confidence to contrast Kath's wariness and discomfort.
The Cow has a lot going for it at first, but it falters in bringing all of its thematic elements together with the mystery and suspense. Horowitz builds intensity and there will be a sense of intrigue from the audience with regards to learning what happens and how the story plays out. To that end, the film can be worthwhile and Kath herself is a great character — if only she’d been explored a bit more. At the very least, The Cow offers some food for thought and has a strong setup, even if it doesn't fully deliver a satisfying conclusion.
The Cow had its premiere at the SXSW Film Festival on March 13, 2022. The film is 90 minutes long and is not yet rated.