Cannes Film Festival 2024: The Surfer [Video]

Cannes Film Festival 2024: The Surfer | Review

It’s often said now that stars no longer sell movies, as franchises and intellectual property are more important than a glamorous lead. An odd exception though is Nicolas Cage who, while enjoying a career renaissance, has carved out a niche starring in quirky, sometimes comical B-movie thrillers that unleash his unique acting style. Lorcan Finnegan’s The Surfer is very much that, and those wanting to see the “Cage rage” turned up to 11 will not be disappointed.

The film opens with the unnamed protagonist, a financial professional going through a divorce, describing waves as “pure energy” as he takes his son to Luna Bay, an idyllic Australian surfing haunt near his childhood home. (The fact Cage doesn’t attempt an accent is explained by a youthful move away.) All he wants to do is ride the waves with his son and close a deal on his boyhood home so …