Neo-Western EDDINGTON gives its audience the usual Ari Aster anxiety attack but pairs it with some biting satire about fake news and mob mentality and an unexpectedly action-packed final act. During Covid Lockdown, a sheriff in a New Mexico town (Joaquin Phoenix) clashes with the incumbent mayor (Pedro Pascal) and various protestors while conspiracy theories begin to warp his concept of reality. This is very much a twisted vibes movie which really just got to go with and accept you will be lost at one point or the next. Much like with INHERENT VICE, Phoenix seems to be the go-to lead for a story where the whole film responds to its protagonist’s fractured state of mind, and the ways in which he locks horns with supporting players like Deidre O’Connell and Pedro Pascal is mesmerising. This probably has a few too many ideas even for a 150 minute movie, but this further emphasises Aster’s distinct, sometimes frustrating directorial voice. SSP