- Release year: 2023 – present.
- Creator: Lee Sung Jin.
- Producers: Jes Anderson, Savey Cathey, Alexander H. Gayner, Matthew Medlin and Inman Young.
- Writers: Lee Sung Jin, Jean Kyoung Frazier, Marie Hanhnhon Nguyen, Kevin Rosen, Joanna Calo, Niko Gutierrez-Kovner, Alice Ju, Carrie Kemper and Alex Russell.
- Cinematography by: Larkin Seiple.
- Music by: Haxan Cloak.
Synopsis: two people get into a road-rage dispute and, as a result of their own unfulfilled lives, let that action consume them, escalating their mutual retaliation to exaggerated extents.
Shotgun Commentary: fun and stressful. It will keep surprising you until the very end.
Review
Beef offers 10 hours of constant stress. It will make you laugh out loud, gasp in shock, and hide in second-hand embarrassment in equal measures. All the while keeping you glued to the screen for the whole duration. Unless you have a very pressing engagement that prevents you from it… and probably even if you do.
An empty existence
This miniseries tells the story of two very miserable people who are incapable of thinking of anyone other than themselves. That is, until they meet each other in the worst possible way: behind the wheel on a bad day. After both of them lose their minds over a trivial occurrence and almost kill each other, Danny (Steven Yeun), one of the drivers involved, tracks the other driver to get revenge over… Well, essentially because his life sucks, and he needs to find some sense of power and control.
Unluckily for him, his revenge prank doesn’t sit well with the other driver, Amy (Ali Wong), who also desperately needs to find something that can fulfil her life. Inadvertently, Danny has awakened a fire in Amy, a desire to come out on top. This unavoidably leads to a non-stop escalation of revenges that end in tragedy.
More than drama
Despite being a comedy, the series touches upon grave themes such as generational trauma, rage, depression, religious beliefs… Topics that are interconnected, forming the context of the story in which the characters evolve. At first, rage and depression steal the show, directing every single one of the protagonists actions. The struggle to maintain a happy and positive appearance weighs on them to the point where their feud becomes necessary for them to function properly in the other aspects of their life.
However, these feelings are slowly revealed as generational trauma. Broken marriages, neglect, and the isolation of facing a society that never really bothers to welcome or understand you form a deadly combination, especially for a child. This results in survivor coping mechanisms that override any morality or principles. At the end of the day, the survival instinct always wins. So, while it could be simplified as “they are bad people who do bad things”, it is a lot more than that.
The popularity of this show lays in the fact that Danny and Amy’s situation is one that affects thousands of people. Whether you are an immigrant, come from a rough environment, or simply haven’t developed healthy mechanisms to cope with your feelings, this is a story that speaks to all.
The nihilistic cover that tints the story with dark humour adds to an attraction that already existed thanks to the universality of the topic. Who hasn’t had intrusive feelings while driving? Or a bad day when you just want to throw some crockery around with all your might? If none of this applies to you, congratulations, you are part of the chosen ones who have an absolutely perfect life. Sadly, you might find this show a bit confusing.
We, the people
This superbly developed story would be nothing without its characters. They bring complex personalities that grow and get tangled with each other, creating the most entertaining chaos. On the one hand, you have Danny. He is a struggling contractor with a lazy, clueless, younger brother that he is forced to take care of. His relationship with religion and the twisted path he follows to survive create a fascinating character arc that is only made more riveting due to Amy’s influence.
On the other hand, there is Amy, an ambitious woman who feels like she’s missing something from her life. She craves the thrills that only her battle against Danny provides. Her strong character and unwavering resolve are hypnotising, enticing you to watch every single one of her moves as well as Danny’s countermoves like a riveting chess game you can’t get enough of.
Form and sound
Their story is completed with the help of supporting characters that bring extra tension or laughs. In addition to a neat, clean aesthetic that heightens the protagonists’ twisted decisions and actions. The pacing is spot on. Never dragging on the moment and making great use of the camera shots that hint at relevant details and gestures without necessarily spoiling what’s about to happen.
To top that up, the soundtrack is absolutely fantastic, utilising strong, impactful tracks for the end of each episode. These accompany the final reveal of each phase of the account, enhancing the impact and thus the spectator’s experience.
All in all, Beef is a great show that doesn’t overstay its welcome. It gets to the point of what it wants to communicate and does so magnificently, combining all the resources at its disposal. Technique and artistry coming together to share a universal experience through a warped lens that shows what would happen if we acted on our intrusive thoughts.
Advice to take from this movie:
- Slut-shaming isn’t cute, regardless of how much of a thirst trap the girl’s socials are.
- Never trust a guy that goes around acting like Gandhi.
- Misery breeds misery.
What’s your take? Have you watched Beef? What’s your favourite episode?
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