🎯 Quick Overview
Trailer
- Director: Garth Davis
- Genre: Drama, Sci-Fi, Thriller, Romance
- Release year: 2023
- Runtime (length): 1h 50min
- IMDb rating: 5.4/10 (12K votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes: 24%
😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained
In the future, marriage is so bad that the government will replace your spouse with a robot, and you might not even notice.
🍿 Foe: Detailed Plot Synopsis
Setting the Scene: A Dystopian Future
In 2065, Earth faces environmental devastation. Hen and Junior live an isolated life on a remote farm. Their quiet existence is disrupted when Terrance, a stranger, arrives with a startling proposal.

The Proposal: Space and Replacements
Terrance reveals that Junior has been selected for a space program. To ease Hen’s loneliness, a synthetic AI replica of Junior will stay with her during his absence. This sets off a chain of events that tests their relationship and identity.

Monitoring and Deterioration
Terrance moves in to observe Hen and Junior, conducting interviews and administering tests. Junior becomes increasingly paranoid, suspecting Terrance’s motives and the true nature of the program. The couple’s relationship strains under the pressure.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained
🎬 Cast & Characters
- Hen (Saoirse Ronan): A woman trapped in a loveless marriage who yearns for something more than her desolate farming life.
- Junior (Paul Mescal): Hen’s husband, a simple farmer who is chosen for a mysterious space program that disrupts their already fragile marriage.
- Terrance (Aaron Pierre): A government agent from OuterMore who arrives with a startling proposal for Junior and disrupts Hen and Junior’s lives.
💬 Memorable Quotes
- Terrance: “We’ve been working on the next phase of transition for a long time. There’s always been several possibilities of human existence in space. The moon, Mars. But with our lands an seas transforming as they are, we decided to built our own space station, our own planet.” – Terrance explains the scope of the OuterMore project and its goals to Junior.
- Terrance: “So I’m here because of the installation. Eh, the first wave of temporary resettlement.” – Terrance reveals the true purpose of his visit and the reason for Junior’s selection.
- Hen: “I’ve lost those parts of who I am or who I could be, and I’m scared I won’t ever get them back.” – Hen expresses her fear of losing herself in her current life and marriage.
💰Box Office
- Budget: N/A
- Domestic Gross: N/A
- Worldwide Gross: $233,120
💥 Foe Reviews
Personal Review
Foe really messed with my head! At first, I was so confused about what was actually happening. But then, when the twist hit, I was like, “Whoa!” The performances are incredible, especially Saoirse Ronan. She just kills it in every scene. I also loved the way the movie looks; it’s so bleak but beautiful at the same time. I felt a bit disconnected at times, but overall, it’s a movie that sticks with you and makes you think, even if it’s a little too slow sometimes. I felt like the setting really adds the tension, the movie made me ponder on how climate change can impact relationships. The end part really made me sad, especially with the clone, I had to rewatch it to totally understand. I recommend watching this one.
- Who would enjoy:
- “Fans of slow-burn science fiction”
- “Viewers interested in psychological thrillers”
- “Admirers of Saoirse Ronan and Paul Mescal”
- “Those who enjoy dystopian settings and thought-provoking themes”
- Content warnings ⚠:
- “Nudity”
- “Sexual Content”
- “Profanity”
- “Disturbing Themes”
- “Implied Violence”
Professional Reviews
- The New York Times: “Foe is beautifully shot but struggles to connect its sci-fi premise with the emotional core of its characters. Ronan and Mescal deliver strong performances, but the film’s slow pace and ambiguous storytelling leave you feeling detached from their struggles.
- Variety: “Garth Davis delivers a visually stunning film with compelling performances from Saoirse Ronan and Paul Mescal, but the narrative’s heavy reliance on metaphor and slow burn pacing may alienate some viewers. The themes of identity and environmental decay resonate, but the film doesn’t always cohere.
- The Guardian: “Foe presents an intriguing premise about love and loss in a dystopian future, elevated by strong performances. However, the film’s deliberate ambiguity and lack of clear answers can frustrate, making it a thought-provoking but ultimately unsatisfying experience.
Audience Reactions
Many found the complex, thought-provoking storyline rewarding on a second viewing, catching nuances they missed the first time.: Viewers praised the performances of Saoirse Ronan and Paul Mescal, noting their ability to convey deep emotions with subtlety.
The bleak, desolate atmosphere resonated with many viewers, enhancing the themes of isolation and environmental decay.: Audience members were captivated by the film’s stunning visuals and cinematography, appreciating the artistry in portraying a dystopian future.
Overall Consensus: Foe is a visually striking and thought-provoking film, praised for its performances but criticized for its slow pace and ambiguous narrative. It’s a movie that lingers in the mind, prompting discussion and multiple viewings for those who appreciate its depth.
Awards
🛠️ Behind the Scenes
- “The house featured in the movie was re-created to resemble a real house located just outside Westport, Ontario, Canada.”
- “Originally, the plan was to film at the actual location near Westport; however, due to actor scheduling constraints, it would have required shooting during the Canadian winter, which was not suitable for the film’s storyline. Consequently, the production team opted to construct an exact replica of the Westport house in Australia.”
🖥️ How to Watch Foe?
Foe is available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video. You can rent or purchase the movie on platforms like Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check your local listings for availability.

🎥 Similar Movies
If you enjoyed Foe, you might like these similar films:
- Never Let Me Go (2010): Explores themes of identity, humanity, and the ethical implications of human cloning in a dystopian setting.
- Moon (2009): Deals with isolation, identity crisis, and the psychological impact of being replaced by clones in a remote setting.
- Arrival (2016): Explores themes of time, memory, and the potential for profound personal transformation when faced with the unknown.
- Annihilation (2018): Focuses on psychological and identity exploration within a strange and deadly environment, mirroring the characters’ inward journeys.
🛒 Foe Related Products
- Iain Reid’s ‘Foe’ (The Original Novel): Delve deeper into the story with the source material. Offers richer character development and plot nuances that the movie adaptation couldn’t fully capture. Get more insight into the inner workings of the human characters.
- Funko Pop! Vinyl: Astronaut Figurine: A stylized astronaut figurine inspired by the space colonization theme in Foe. This Funko Pop captures the essence of humanity’s exploration into the unknown. A must have for sci-fi enthusiasts.
- Sci-Fi Inspired Dystopian Art Print: High quality art print depicting the desolate landscapes and futuristic elements seen in Foe. Perfect for adding a touch of dystopian atmosphere to any room, on canvas or poster paper.
- Solaris (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]: If you liked the feeling of loneliness in Foe and the movie’s themes of isolation, check out Solaris, the 1972 science fiction art film based on the novel of the same name by Stanislaw Lem, similar themes are throughout this movie. This edition also features a beautiful transfer and insightful bonus features.
🎧 Soundtrack
Foe features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:
You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.
🤨 FAQ
Foe explores themes of identity, relationships, and the impact of technology on human connection in a dystopian future.
Foe was primarily filmed in Winton, Victoria, and South Australia, Australia. A house featured in the movie was re-created to resemble a real house located just outside Westport, Ontario, Canada.
Yes, Foe is based on the novel of the same name by Iain Reid, published in 2018.
🔥 Bonus Content
What Makes Willem Dafoe’s Green Goblin So Terrifying
Ever wonder why Willem Dafoe’s Green Goblin is so unsettling? This video breaks down exactly what makes his performance so terrifying, and honestly, it’s pretty insightful. It totally gave me a new appreciation for his acting!
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