Truly odd, but oddly fascinating

Rating: 7/10 (30 December 2016)

Having watched The Lobster (oddly enough, following Batman Vs Superman... what a complete difference!), I can honestly say I found it a strangely compelling and enjoyable film. Don't get me wrong, it's truly odd and unusual, and won't be for everyone, but if you like quirky and strange films every bit as much as your blockbusters, you may find this quite enjoyable. Every few minutes, you will find yourself thinking "What the...?!" but in a good way.
I've read some of the one star reviews, and whilst I can't argue with a lot of what they say (it's trite, shallow, emperor's new clothes, etc.), I also think they're missing the point. If you want to look for some deep commentary that satirises modern relationships and gender politics, this is not it. If you look for that, and believe that's what the film is about, then you *will* find it shallow, and an "Emperor's new clothes" experience (If that's what the creators intended, then yes, they missed the mark).
As far as I'm concerned, this isn't a film with any message; this is a dream that has been brought to life with actors. The logic and reality of this world makes no sense, until you place it in the context of a dream, and then everything makes sense, in the same way the strange and unusual does in your own dreams. I don't mean that as an excuse, where anything can be allowed "because it's a dream", but because the logic, script and reality of the film fit perfectly with how a dream works.
What The Lobster ultimately ends up being, is a truly unusual little romance. My one complaint would be the finale. It fails in the way that I think many horror films fail. Horror movie creators all-too-often think that because they're making a horror film, they have to have the protagonist/s almost win, then something bad happens in the very last moments and they lose, which is as clichéd, tired and predictable an ending as a horror movie can have. Likewise, 'art house' films like this, all-too-often have ambiguous ends, that want to 'leave it to the viewer' to decide what happens. Sometimes that can seem forced, just because they want to avoid a 'hollywood', but then they can end up being as predictable and clichéd (in their own right) as the ending they were trying to avoid.
The Lobster falls into that trap, at the very final moment, but is otherwise a very different film experience that can be enjoyed in its own context. Having said that, I can completely understand where people are coming from who do not enjoy it. You'll just have to decide for yourself.