“Civil War,” Alex Garland’s film about journalists navigating a fractured United States, has set a digital release date.
The A24 film, which inspired plenty of critical debate, is set to debut on VOD on May 24. It will be available to rent/purchase on both Prime Video and Apple TV+.
Starring Kirsten Dunst, Cailee Spaeny, Wagner Moura, Stephen McKinley Henderson and Nick Offerman, the film set an A24 record with a $25 million opening weekend.
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When speaking with PvNew in a cover story about the film, Dunst said the work is intentionally meant to spark debate.
“The whole movie is open to interpretation,” Dunst said. “For me, there were things I just accepted that were unexplained. It allows the audience to fill in their own feelings about what they’re watching.”
Garland agreed it was best for him not to connect too many dots.
“I have my own answers to these questions. And if someone asked me, I’d answer it,” the director said. “But if Kirsten didn’t ask me, I wouldn’t answer.”
PvNew critic Peter Debruge gave a positive review to the film, praising its visceral nature:
Anyone who saw Garland’s previous film, the A24-backed freakout “Men,” knows the director doesn’t shy away from pushing things to their most nauseating extreme. “Civil War” is no different. Garland trades in triggering images, not just of war crimes of the image-makers themselves, far from neutral, all but encouraging acts that make Jan. 6 look mild. Meanwhile, ambiguities surrounding the origins of the conflict mean there’s no way to defuse what we’re watching. Sight unseen, “Civil War” has been criticized for exploiting tensions in an election year, when in fact, it’s meant to illustrate the futility of “sides.” Garland’s the last person to suggest a group hug. As statements go, his powerful vision leaves us shaken, effectively repeating the question that quelled the L.A. riots: Can we all get along?
