What if the class structures of the early 1900s, which aren’t really that much different than they are today, were isolated and broken down bit by bit? The movie Coup! attempts to do just that, taking its eccentric cast of characters on an adventure through anarchy, madness, and self-discovery. Can it successfully blend this heavy message with its wit and charm?

The Plot

Coup! has an interesting and fascinating premise. During the height of the 1900s flu epidemic, a personal chef with a dark secret arrives at his new place of employment. This isolated mansion is seemingly safe from the ravages of the outside world, but this mysterious chef sees opportunity in this isolation. An opportunity to test the limits of the social norms. A chance to bend, and perhaps break, the walls separating servant, and master.

The Politics

This dark comedy is filled to bursting with social commentary that is highly relevant today. The wealthy socialite posing as an everyman, equally out of touch with the masses he claims to fight for, and willing to gaslight them to stroke his own ego really stuck out to me. It is also very clear that they were looking to evoke the unease of the COVID-19 pandemic, the fear and isolation that we all felt so intensely, by presenting the similarly overwhelming force that was the Spanish flu.

Master and Servant

The dueling antagonists in Coup! are a mysterious chef named Floyd Monk (Peter Skarsgård) and an ambitious silver spoon aristocrat named Jay Horton (Billy Magnussen). Both men are skilled manipulators in their own ways. Monk is a mischievous mustachioed menace with a charming southern twang, and Horton is a respected publisher looking to exploit the plight of the working class during a pandemic to improve his own social standing. The chemistry between the two is delightfully sharp and I genuinely looked forward to each scene they shared.

Supporting Cast

For such a small film, the supporting cast was incredible. Five minutes after she appeared on screen, I knew Kristine Nielsen’s performance as Mrs. McMurray, the razor-sharp Irish mistress with a delightful dower disposition, would be one of the best in the film. Faran Tahir is always a pleasure to see on screen, Skye P. Marshall glows with naive enthusiasm, and Sarah Gadon is excellent as the privileged housewife desperate for purpose (or at least distraction).

The Problems

Make no mistake, Coup! leans heavily on satire and wit, rather than any real humor. So, while it is billed as a “dark comedy” there is little in the way of actual humor. Though, as I stated, the small supporting cast is top-notch, we barely get to spend any real time with them. Each member of the staff gets a few lines to explain their backstory, and for the rest of the film, they do little more than serve as plot devices and set dressing. Lastly, the film generally has a lighthearted tone, but the end goes to a fairly dark place, and I found myself wishing I could have seen more of that darkness in the rest of the film.

Whether you enjoy the humor in this film or not, Coup! is certainly an interesting look at class structure and how that structure can break down, given the right circumstances. It is a film with a lot to say and is able to say it rather well, mostly due to the talent of the cast. Clocking in at a crisp 90 minutes, and assuming you beheaded my warning about the humor and tone, you will not regret spending an hour and a half with these colorful characters. Coup! is out this week in cinemas in the United States.