Humane

Humane is a 2024 horror thriller film directed by Caitlin Cronenberg, and written and produced by Michael Sparaga. It stars Jay Baruchel, Emily Hampshire, Sebastian Chacon, Alanna Bale, Sirena Gulamgaus, Uni Park, Enrico Colantoni, and Peter Gallagher. It is Caitlin Cronenberg's first feature film and was released on April 26, 2024. The film combines elements of horror thriller and family drama to address the topic of the climate crisis.
== Premise ==
Taking place over one day and mere months after a global ecological collapse has forced world leaders to take extreme measures to reduce the earth's population, a recently retired newsman enlists in the nation's new euthanasia program.
== Cast ==
== Production ==
In December 2021, it was reported that Caitlin Cronenberg was set to direct the thriller Humane, written and produced by Michael Sparaga through his company Victory Man Productions and executive produced by Martin Katz and Karen Wookey of Prospero Pictures. In November 2022, Jay Baruchel, Emily Hampshire and Peter Gallagher were revealed to be a part of the main cast.
Principal photography began on October 17, 2022, in Hamilton, Ontario over 20 days, with filming being done at Ravenscliffe Castle for 17 days.
== Release ==
Humane was released in Canada by Elevation Pictures and the United States by IFC Films on April 26, 2024, and on Shudder on July 26, 2024.
== Reception ==
On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 69% based on 36 reviews.
Owen Gleiberman, of Variety, stated "Cronenberg stages Humane with a fearless matter-of-factness, with telling nods to issues of corporate surveillance and the evils of private contracting, and with a vivid eye for the schemes and secrets hidden in the Victorian nooks and crannies of that house."
A three out of four stars review from Richard Roeper of the Chicago Sun-Times stated "There are some delightfully squeamish scenes — but this is primarily a psychological thriller, an update/variation on The Fall of the House of Usher."
A two out of four stars review on RogerEbert.com stated, "Most of what’s clever about “Humane” exists on its fringe—including perhaps that a Cronenberg has made a film that’s, at least in part, about nepotism—primarily in how it throws its characters from their ivory tower and then watches them fight in the mud over who gets to climb back up. The social commentary talking points embedded in “Humane” are undoubtedly intriguing, but too many of them feel superficial, flirting with ideas about privilege without having much to say about them."
IndieWire called the film "a sharp but slight thriller" while Collider praised the dark comedy aspects of the film.
== External links ==
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== References ==
Category:2024 films
Category:Films starring Jay Baruchel
Category:Films starring Emily Hampshire
Category:Films starring Peter Gallagher
Category:Films starring Enrico Colantoni
Category:Films starring Sebastian Chacon
Category:Films starring Alanna Bale
Category:Films starring Sirena Gulamgaus
Category:Films starring Uni Park
Category:2024 directorial debut films
Category:2024 horror thriller films
Category:2020s Canadian films
Category:2020s dystopian films
Category:2020s English-language films
Category:Canadian horror thriller films
Category:English-language Canadian films
Category:Films about euthanasia
Category:Films shot in Hamilton, Ontario