‘Anxiety-shredding’ horror film that forced people to leave cinemas coming to the UK-Rebecca Sayce-Entertainment – Metro

A horror film described as ‘cruel’ and ‘2024’s most disturbing release’ is making its way to UK streaming services after appalling audiences on the festival circuit.

The Coffee Table has hit cinemas in the US after appearing at film festivals such as Fantastic Fest, Grimmfest, and Soho Horror Film Festival, prompting some to leave screenings early thanks to the shocking events that unfold onscreen.

Directed by Caye Casas, the pitch-black comedy follows married couple Jesús (David Pareja) and Maria (Estefanía de los Santos) who find themselves thrown into the deep end of parenthood after welcoming their first child after years of trying.

One day, they go to a furniture store to buy a coffee table for their apartment, a simple task that leaves the fractured couple bickering, with Jesús digging his heels in on the gaudy table he wants. A seemingly minute decision he soon comes to regret as it tears their lives apart.

The film debuted at the 2022 Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, quickly garnering word-of-mouth traction as one of the most gruesome, cruel films set to be released.

And it even proved to be a little too much for the ‘master of horror’ himself Stephen King, as he took to X to warn potential viewers of the darkness within.

The Coffee Table is coming to UK digital release platforms after it stormed the festival circuit (Picture: Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival)

Directed by Caye Casas, the film follows David and Maria after they welcome their first child (Picture: Cinephobia Releasing)

They decide to buy a new coffee table for their apartment – a decision they come to regret (Picture: Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival)

After watching the film, now available to stream in the US, he wrote on X: ‘There’s a Spanish movie called THE COFFEE TABLE on Amazon Prime and Apple+. My guess is you have never, not once in your whole life, seen a movie as black as this one. It’s horrible and also horribly funny. Think the Coen Brothers’ darkest dream.’

UK horror fans who want to test their stomach against the nasty little film will have to wait until May 20 when it comes to digital release platforms via Second Sight Films.

The film boasts a strong 88% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with one of the more unusual compliments branding the film ‘a terrible way to spend ninety minutes.’

Critics have praised The Coffee Table in droves, with Dread Central labelling it ‘feel-bad cinema at its finest’ and ‘an anxiety-shredding experience that isn’t afraid to make you laugh.’

The Guardian said the film has a ‘train wreck appeal’, while Organ Cin thought it could be ‘quite possibly the most terrifying film this year.’

Starburst Magazine said it’s ‘an impressive work of boundary-bashing trauma-baiting from filmmakers who both delight in and profoundly understand their victims’ pain. The ultimate in feel-bad cinema.’

Some audience members found it too much to handle and left screenings of the film (Picture: Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival)

It has been compared to Hereditary and described as 2024’s most disturbing film (Picture: Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival)

One thing is for sure – you won’t forget The Coffee Table in a hurry (Picture: Cinephobia Releasing)

A film critic at Collider, meanwhile, compared the flick to Ari Aster’s horrifying 2018 film Hereditary, saying The Coffee Table is ‘one of 2024’s more disturbing horror films.’

Following its release, Casas opened up on what inspired him to make a film that has chilled so many audience members to their very core.

‘We wanted to make one of the cruellest films ever made, one that people cannot forget,’ Casas told Fangoria.

‘It will make them feel very strong emotions, real terror without monsters, zombies, ghosts or murderers, only with a dining room table and the cruellest fate that you can imagine.’

He continued: ‘I can only assure one thing to audiences, if you like strong emotions, if you want to suffer like never before, if you want to feel real terror, The Coffee Table is your movie. You will never forget it, I promise.’

The Coffee Table comes to digital release platforms on May 20.

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