The Coffee Table A Catastrophe in the Living Room. Or, La Mesita del Comedor. Alright, cinephiles, buckle up because we’re diving into one of the most head-spinning, anxiety-inducing films you’ll see this year: The Coffee Table. This movie isn’t just a film; it’s a ninety-minute roller coaster that is an anxiety inducing car crash. This low budget, international film, dragged me through the depths of dread and simultaneously left me completely incredulous. I thought the movie was going to become an absurdist horror train wreck, which… frankly, would have been preferred. Instead? It doubled down on the premise and freaked me out in the process!!
Spoilers Ahead – But Honestly, Knowing Them Might Save Your Sanity
First off, let’s set the scene. María and Jesús Casas, a couple already teetering on the edge of exhaustion and stress, decide to visit a furniture store with their newborn, Cayetanín. They’re in the market for a coffee table. Sounds mundane, right? Oh, how wrong you are. Enter Cayetano, a salesman with the kind of smarmy charm that makes you instantly distrustful. He pushes an expensive coffee table with “unbreakable” glass, and despite María’s adamant refusal, Jesús is sold. You have just been introduced to your worst nightmare and you don’t even know it yet! hahaha. Let’s continue our descent into this insanity… shall we?
Now, Jesús, convinced by the oily salesman, hauls this monstrosity home and starts assembling it. Cue Ruth, the teenage neighbor from hell, who has a knack for showing up at the worst possible moments and threatens Jesús with baseless accusations of pedophilia. Why? Because she has a crush on the man. Is this the premise for a new movie called Hard Candy in Reverse? Can it get any worse? Decidedly. You bet it can.
While María is out shopping, Jesús tries to soothe the crying Cayetanín, only to end up in a freak accident that results in the baby’s decapitation by the “unbreakable” glass. Yes, you read that right. This movie doesn’t pull any punches. From this moment on, Jesús spirals into shock and madness, trying to clean up the unimaginable horror he’s wrought.
When María returns, the tension skyrockets as Jesús struggles to keep her from discovering the truth. Yes… this is the direction the movie goes. Deception?!? Subterfuge? I was thinking it was going to head in the direction of nine other people dying at the hands of this evil table. But Jesús attempting to hide the baby’s death?? Really? My heart rate was hovering in the low 200’s I’m sure. Well, then this leads to a dinner scene with Jesús’s brother Carlos and his wife Christina… literally the definition of the term “awkward.” Jesús is constantly on the brink of a breakdown. WORSE? Christina reveals that she is pregnant! GAH.
Just when you think it can’t get any more nerve-wracking, Jesús records a confession, overheard by Carlos, leading to a botched intervention. Avert your eyes – which is when Ruth’s dog finds the baby’s severed head. Which, then devolves into utter chaos as María finally realizes the horrible truth of what has happened. Not to be outdone? The movie then goes to 11 when she clutches the head and steps onto the balcony, where both she and Jesús end their lives by jumping to their deaths.
The Movie’s Merciless Grip on Your Anxiety
Director Caye Casas set out to make “one of the cruelest films ever made,” and boy, did he deliver. There’s no gore-fest here – instead, Casas crafts a relentless psychological horror that preys on the everyday fears of parenthood and domestic life. It’s not the blood that gets you; it’s the sheer, unflinching presentation of a nightmare scenario that could, in some twisted version of reality, happen to anyone. It was a simple accident that spirals relentlessly out of control.
The Shifts in Tone – Jarring or Genius?
Now, let’s talk about the film’s tonal shifts. The Coffee Table swings from dark comedy to nerve-shredding horror, sometimes with all the grace of a wrecking ball. One moment you’re chuckling at the absurdity of Jesús’s predicament, the next you’re clutching your seat in terror. It’s a bold move, but not without its hiccups. Some transitions are smoother than others, but the overall effect is a disorienting, emotional blender that keeps you on edge.
Critics are divided on whether these tonal shifts are brilliant or bungling. On one hand, you’ve got scenes of razor-sharp, acidic comedy that cut to the bone of middle-class pretensions. On the other, there’s Jesús’s PTSD-laden horror, a stark and brutal contrast. It’s a balancing act that not every viewer will appreciate, but you can’t deny the audacity behind it.
Why You Should (or Shouldn’t) Watch This Movie
Look, if you’re someone who thrives on cinematic experiences that push you to the edge of your emotional limits, The Coffee Table is your next must-watch. It’s a masterclass in sustained tension and creeping dread. But if you prefer your movies with a clear boundary between comedy and horror, or if the idea of a baby’s gruesome death makes you queasy (I mean, let’s be honest – it should make us all extraordinarily queasy), then steer clear.
This film is a gut-wrenching exploration of the fragility of happiness and the catastrophic potential of mundane decisions. It’s not just a movie; it’s a challenge to your mental fortitude. Proceed with caution, but if you dare, The Coffee Table promises a cinematic experience you won’t soon forget – no matter how hard you try.
My Own Personal Take on The Coffee Table
It was DIFFERENT. And different is usually good in my book. It’s an international film… awesome. It’s a super clever, if harsh, premise. It’s got some good acting from a totally unknown cast of characters. The movie is directed and co-written by Caye Casas. And it’s obviously inspired. Personally? I didn’t mind the gore of it, which, there wasn’t much? I mean, now I feel like I am Satan… YES, IT’S GRUESOME… but the blood of the story is confined to the opening really. I mean, other than the suicides. OHMYGoOsh! Just stop interrupting me! Okay, yes, we should all hate this movie. But I’m going to bet that most of the readers of this particular blog? Will probably enjoy it. Just saying… you guys are all just as evil and horrible as me. So congrats. So, all that to say, I thought it was pretty inspired. Kinda like a really dark Black Mirror episode. And so, with that last sentence, the rest of it should be obvious. Of course we are all going to love it.
Edited by: CY