Swiss Army Man

 Swiss Army Man | Watch the Movie on HBO | HBO.com

Swiss Army Man

The 2016 comedy/fantasy film titled, Swiss Army Man, follows the story of Hank, a man who recently found himself stranded on a desert island. When Hank loses hope and is prepared to end his life, he finds a dead man that has washed up on the shore. Hank uses Manny’s strange and seemingly magical powers from his body to return to shore and find his way home. Along the way, Manny starts to come to life and they build a friendship that teaches them the true meaning of life. While teaching Manny about the societal norms and expectations of the world, Hank uncovers some dark and painful memories of his past which causes him to question everything he ever knew. Hank eventually finds his way back home and Manny rides off into the sunset.

The camera angles in Swiss Army Man significantly contribute the whimsical and surreal feeling of the film. The Daniels used wide shots and close-ups to capture the emotions of the characters and make the audience feel like we are along the journey with Hank and Manny. This film is culturally relevant because it discusses themes of loneliness, friendship, and societal expectations. These ideas are becoming more popular elements of discussion in our culture, especially after the most isolating event of this century, the Covid-19 pandemic. Swiss Army Man effectively uses humor and magic to discuss these difficult topics and makes the audience feel less alone in this complicated world. 

The Sound of Silliness: Appreciating the Swiss Army Man Soundtrack

Honestly, this is not a film that I would have picked for myself because I am not usually a fan of fantasy movies, however, I believe this film was done very well and I found myself to be invested in the story. I think an important thing to remember while watching this film is to just take everything at face value. The story is strange, weird, and often times gross but allowing yourself to just fall into the story without questioning the logic will make it much more enjoyable.  Overall, I enjoyed this film because it is different and has a unique voice and I will definitely recommend it to people looking for and odd but inspiring movie to make them question everything they know. 




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