Get ready for a punch in the gut that'll leave you gasping – 'Our Hero, Balthazar', the unapologetic black comedy from Oscar Boyson, is now streaming in the UK. This no-holds-barred take on America's ills will have you squirming in your seat as it tackles incel culture, social media, and gun violence with a scathing wit reminiscent of early Jason Reitman films.
Balthazar, the privileged Manhattan teen at the centre of this maelstrom (Jaeden Martell), is a master manipulator. Behind a façade of activism, he's more concerned with impressing his crush Eleanor (Pippa Knowles) than actually making a difference. His misguided attempts to connect with her lead him down a dark path – one that involves 'catfishing' an online troll known as deathdealer_16.
The real-life encounter between Balthazar and deathdealer_16, aka Solomon (Asa Butterfield), is a game-changer. What starts as a tense meeting quickly turns into an unlikely friendship forged in the fires of mutual incomprehension. As they navigate their uneasy bond, the film expertly captures the homoerotic undertones that define their relationship – think pistols, pickup trucks, and a whole lot of testosterone.
Boyson's satire can be sharp as a razor one minute, then bludgeoning the next. But when it works, it's pure magic – like Balthazar cloning his mother's voice for some very explicit chats with Solomon, or Solomon retaliating with racy pics of his porn star dad. It's cringe-worthy, but somehow also strangely endearing.
Asa Butterfield shines in the role of Solomon, transitioning from awkward to assertive with ease. He forms an unlikely duo with Martell, who brings a depth to Balthazar's manipulative nature that's both captivating and disturbing. The result is a film that's equal parts uncomfortable, thought-provoking, and – dare we say it? – strangely enjoyable.