Prime Video is celebrating spooky season with a cult-favorite comedy that swings more existential horror than you might expect. Rarely do I find a movie I can honestly say is like nothing I’ve ever seen before, but “Being John Malkovich” is one such film. It’s unwaveringly bizarre, an “Alice in Wonderland” for the modern age. The kind of surreal “What the hell did I just watch?” movie that burrows into your brain for years to come.
Now that “Being John Malkovich” has landed on Prime Video, I encourage you to check out (or revisit) this fever dream. Over 25 years ago, “Being John Malkovich” marked the remarkable debut of two visionary talents: screenwriter Charlie Kaufman (“Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” “Synecdoche, New York”) and director Spike Jonze (“Her”). Kaufman’s sharply cerebral storytelling seems plucked from some wonderfully bizarre inner dimension. But instead of trying to decode what it all means, it’s best to just sit back and enjoy the ride.
If you need a little more convincing, here’s everything you need to know before streaming “Being John Malkovich” and why it’s definitely worth your time.
What is ‘Being John Malkovich’ about?
This synopsis is going to sound insane, but somehow it all works. John Cusack stars as Craig Schwartz, an out-of-work puppeteer whose bawdy street performances are more likely to earn him a punch to the face than a livable wage. At home, he’s surrounded by animals his wife Lotte (played by a nearly unrecognizable Cameron Diaz) brings home from her job at a pet store. Craig eventually lands a job as a file clerk at a mysterious company on the 7½th floor. There, he discovers a hidden portal behind a filing cabinet that leads directly into the mind of actor John Malkovich.
Once inside, Craig experiences life through Malkovich’s eyes for exactly 15 minutes before being dumped beside the New Jersey Turnpike. Soon, his aloof coworker Maxine (Catherine Keener, in a career-defining performance) devises a scheme to monetize the portal, selling tickets to anyone who wants a brief escape from their own reality to enter John’s mind like it’s a theme park ride. Things spiral further when Lotte enters the portal and begins an affair with Maxine — conducted, naturally, through the body of Malkovich himself.
Stream ‘Being John Malkovich’ on Prime Video now
“Being John Malkovich” is a mental high-wire act, somehow weaving an utterly bizarre unreality into a grounded exploration of identity, the cost of fame, and gender and sexuality in a way almost unheard of for the time it came out. At the same time, it’s also a hilariously absurd watch where Malkovich goes around saying only his name like a Pokémon at one point. That it can be both speaks to Kaufman’s unmistakable writing style, which blends surrealism with a haunting sense of unease and introspection.
Too often, comedies are overlooked when it comes to acting, but “Being John Malkovich” is a brilliant showcase of top-tier performances. All the actors involved seem to have found a freedom to go places their careers have never taken them before or since. Both Cusack and Diaz look unlike any character they’ve played, and I almost didn’t recognize Diaz as the frizzy-haired, dowdy love interest Lotte.
But don’t just take my word for it. “Being John Malkovich” earned a 94% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, and its audience score of 87% doesn’t trail that far behind. The critics consensus reads: “Smart, funny, and highly original, Being John Malkovich supports its wild premise with skillful direction and a stellar ensemble cast.”
There’s also a fan theory that the film and Jordan Peele’s “Get Out” are set in the same universe, based on Catherine Keener’s appearance in both and their shared themes of inhabiting other people’s bodies. Peele has even endorsed the fan theory, saying, “As far as I’m concerned, it’s true.” So you can kind of consider “Being John Malkovich” a “Get Out” prequel, which makes it the perfect light-hearted watch for Halloween (if you squint).
Watch “Being John Malkovich” on Prime Video now
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