Before they were attending the Oscars in 2025, Jesse Eisenberg and Adrien Brody crossed paths in one of the most viciously sinister cult movies of the last few years. Eisenberg plays Ralphie, a role that begins as an archetypical performance for the Academy Award-nominated screenwriter but descends into an unexpectedly chilling performance. Manodrome shows the power of influence and how toxic a herd mentality can be in an environment without balance and disagreement. Despite being stripped back in substance, the movie is rich in ideology and shows a modern-day cult that critiques a crisis of masculinity.
What Is ‘Manodrome’ About?
Manodrome follows Ralphie, a rideshare driver who is working as much as he can to provide for his pregnant girlfriend, Sal (Odessa Young), after being fired from his previous job. The actor’s performance starts out in the actor’s comfort zone as Ralphie is evidently nervous about being a father and keeps to himself. However, he is definitely not meek, which is vital to his character arc but also allows him to feel less one-dimensional. For example, his aspirations to become a bodybuilder show his drive and commitment despite his insular nature. It evidences Ralphie has this passion inside him but uses it to fuel his desire through training. However, his friend Jason (Phillip Ettinger) clearly sees potential in him and invites him to a meeting.
At the dinner, Ralphie is introduced to a group of men, led by the charming Dad Dan (Brody). After a slight hesitation, Ralphie begins to settle as the men are complementary, and he lowers his barriers. This leads to Ralphie being less apprehensive as he visits the house that is essentially the group’s commune, and he doesn’t process the warning signs in front of him. Dan explains that each group member has left their old life behind and now lives at the compound. Ralphie subtly becomes entrapped by Dan’s words of flattery, and the exposure to the group causes slow changes in his behavior.
‘Manodrome’ Creates a Modern Day Cult
Ralphie’s level-headedness and ability to settle his feelings internally dissipate as he begins acting irrationally, driven by spite. He speeds when a gay couple attempts to have sex in the back of his car, and he pawns a phone left in his cab by a child. This is when the true twisted nature of Manodrome begins to unfold, and Eisenberg’s performance is amped up. The chanting and overt misogyny Ralphie witnessed at the compound begin to control his judgment, as that constant noise causes him to let his rage overcome him. Whenever he visits the house, the insistence of the group to call each other “son” and “dad” partnered with the sparse, dark interior creates an unnatural and unsettling atmosphere; the audience is screaming at Ralphie to run, but it already feels too late.
The slow descent into rage that Eisenberg portrays is so unexpected, especially considering his roles are usually fast-talking and energetic. Ralphie grows that signature self-assurance associated with Eisenberg’s acting, but it is measured and controlled. He starts with subtle acts of dismissal and abruptness towards his girlfriend, but this develops into extreme aggression as he seems to get agitated towards everything. His transformation into an archetype of toxic masculinity not only subverts expectations of Eisenberg but also becomes so uncomfortable that you feel trapped as a viewer.
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This is supported by the steady performance of Brody, who remains consistent throughout Manodrome as a calming figure of authority. At first, his role seems manipulative and extreme, but he is able to serve as a control to Eisenberg’s shocking turn, showing how Ralphie is influenced and consequently letting the indoctrination push him too far. The movie explores the issue with singular mindsets but also highlights just how easy it is for an insecure individual to fall prey to charm and perceived kindness, especially if they are starved of self-assurance. It is a difficult watch, and it is not without its flaws, but the performances of Eisenberg and Brody make Manodrome a hidden gem.
Manodrome
- Release Date
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November 10, 2023
- Runtime
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95 Minutes
- Director
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John Trengove
- Writers
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John Trengove
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