Ari Aster’s ‘Eddington’ Explores Pandemic-Era Chaos Through a Fragmented Small-Town Lens

Ari Aster’s new film ‘Eddington’ premiered at Cannes 2025 and is set during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in a fictional New Mexico town. Known for his previous horror films, Aster blends black comedy and psychological drama in this grim exploration of how the pandemic fractured American society. The story follows Joe Cross, a small-town sheriff played by Joaquin Phoenix, who struggles to hold his personal and public life together amid rising tensions and conspiracy-fueled paranoia. His wife Louise, played by Emma Stone, is emotionally distant due to past trauma, and her mother Dawn actively promotes online conspiracies from their couch. The film highlights a polarized community dealing with lockdowns, protests, racial tensions, and misinformation. Aster delves into cultural rifts and the rise of fringe influencers like Vernon Jefferson Peak, while social-media activism and reactionary law enforcement further complicate the town’s unraveling. Though ambitious in scope and packed with social commentary, the film avoids taking sides, opting instead for a chaotic reflection of moral and societal uncertainty. Phoenix’s portrayal of Joe offers the emotional core of the story — a man desperate to be a savior in a world that no longer functions as he understands it. The film is unsettling, dark, and ultimately ambiguous in its message.