KSL Movie Show review: ‘Humane’ is smart, and just horrifying enough
Apr 26, 2024, 4:00 PM
"Humane" presents the idea that the world is facing serious issues and the only solution the world’s scientists and governments can come up with is to reduce the human population by 20%.
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SALT LAKE CITY — I’ve seen a lot of futuristic dystopian movies in my day, but I think this one is going to stick with me for quite a while.
Regardless of what you believe about the state of our environment, this one presents the idea that the world is facing serious issues and the only solution the world’s scientists and governments can come up with is a need to reduce the human population by 20%.
So the nations of the world get together and agree on an accord that each country will contribute 20% of its population to be euthanized voluntarily. The United States is behind on its quota, just below 10% and needs to step it up.
Kids are exempt, but those in their twilight years can “enlist” to be euthanized as humanely as possible.
They’re first given a sedative to fall asleep, then administered a fatal dose under professional supervision. The body is then taken away by a government agency called DOCS and counted toward saving the rest of humanity.
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So a former, well-known and respected TV news anchorman, Charles York (Peter Gallagher) and his wife Dawn (Uni Park) have invited their estranged family over for dinner to discuss something important.
The children include oldest son Jared (Jay Baruchel), Rachel (Emily Hampshire), Ashley (Alanna Bale) and adopted son Noah (Sebastian Chacon).
But just as they are in the midst of this family dinner, the doorbell rings and it’s Bob (Enrico Colantoni) from DOCS who has been assigned to assist and remove two bodies from the York household that evening. Yes, Mom and Dad have filled out the required paperwork, deciding to check out, to the shock of their self-centered grown children.
But second thoughts creep in, Mom is definitely not on board and disappears.
Bob insists that he and his crew aren’t leaving without two bodies. The semi-noble father agrees to proceed, but the other body will have to come from the remaining brothers and sisters. They have two hours to figure it out.
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At this point, “Humane” has my full attention.
What a terrifying dilemma and how quickly the rat kids turn on each other. They each have their reasons to be spared. One is an actual spokesperson for the “enlistment,” another is an activist, a third is a piano virtuoso and the fourth a would-be actor.
However, they’re told if they haven’t decided by time expiring, they’ll be forced to draw straws. By the way, Bob is easily the most engaging character as his calm demeanor makes everything sound so reasonable.
I should mention that this is a Shudder film presentation. Its films are known for a fair amount of horror and violence. However, “Humane” is smart and horrifying enough without needing the trademark gore.
It would have been a much better movie without it, which is too bad because it’s still pretty riveting in spite of it.
