Ari Aster's Eddington explores political unrest in New Mexico

Ari Aster’s fourth feature film, Eddington, is a political horror-western set in May 2020 in the small town of Eddington, New Mexico, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The film, which competed at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, explores themes of social dislocation and the loss of shared reality.

The plot centers on a confrontation between Sheriff Joe Cross, played by Joaquin Phoenix, and Mayor Ted Garcia, played by Pedro Pascal. The ensemble cast also includes Emma Stone and Austin Butler.

The narrative concludes with an epilogue set one year later, following an apocalyptic shootout. In the aftermath, Joe Cross becomes mayor despite his crimes but is left paralyzed and unable to speak, serving as a figurehead for his conspiracy-minded mother-in-law. Meanwhile, a video of a character named Brian becomes a viral sensation on TikTok, elevating him to a symbol of the American right.