Yorgos Lanthimos's 'Kinds of Kindness' Explores Power Dynamics Through Three Dark Fables

Yorgos Lanthimos's anthology film 'Kinds of Kindness' presents three interconnected stories exploring power imbalances in human relationships. The film features recurring actors including Jesse Plemons, Margaret Qualley, Willem Dafoe, and Emma Stone across its vignettes. One narrative involves a man working for a controlling boss named Raymond, while another follows a cop suspecting his marine biologist wife after a boating accident. A third plot centers on a sex cult seeking a prophesied woman with resurrection abilities. Lanthimos employs the Eurythmics' 1983 song 'Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)' as a thematic anchor, suggesting humanity divides between those who dominate and those who submit. Recurring motifs include willing human sacrifices, injured feet, doubling, partner swapping, and dogs as symbols of loyalty. The film contrasts sharply with Lanthimos's 2023 work 'Poor Things,' offering darker, more nihilistic perspectives on power dynamics. Emma Stone has described Lanthimos as struggling with American studio systems, calling the country 'a fucking disaster.' Philippa Snow reviewed the film for ArtReview, noting its exploration of false love and false gods creating 'psychic devolution.'