Misogynist – stark, unsettling, but kind of a mess

I remember watching “Misogynist” for the first time back in 2014, on a rainy Tuesday afternoon at the tiniest, stickiest cinema in Kungsholmen. Just me, two confused pensionärer who looked like they got lost on their way to a Bergman revival, and a restless bunch sipping Festis and shifting uncomfortably whenever things got intense. No one prepared us for what director Michael Matteo Rossi was cookin’ up.

Jonathan Bennett— y’know, the dude from Mean Girls— surprised me bigtime. I’ll admit I came in expecting a bit of cheesiness (seriously, Mean Girls?), but his portrayal of Harrison, the charismatic, sinister mentor, got under my skin. Creepy, man—like seeing a bear stalk around Kolmården, gorgeous but dangerous, always one move away from pouncing.

The film plunges into the darkest pits of misogyny, showing an extremist mindset with disturbing realism. Rossi goes all-in with the discomfort factor. The characters spew venom like teenagers at Sergels Torg on a Saturday night— crude, shocking, hard to listen to. But that’s the point. It’s a punch in the gut— raw and relentless, but sometimes feeling exaggerated for shock value.

Production-wise, “Misogynist” suffers from a shoestring budget that’s unfortunately noticeable. Sometimes it feels more film school än Hollywood. The set feels cramped, and sound is kind of wonky in parts. Like those bootleg DVDs you bought in Hötorget back in the day; full marks for effort and daring, but could’ve polished it a bit more.

Walking home that night, between the drizzle and streetlights reflecting on Vasagatan, I couldn’t shake the frustration. The theme important as ever, but did Rossi really nail it? I’m still not sure. It’s definitely provocative, it’ll stir conversations mellan polare over fika, but be prepared to feel a bit dirty after watching it.

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