After pressing play on Caye Casas newest film The Coffee Table my hands did not uncover my mouth for the next 90 minutes of the films runtime. The film, better known by it’s Spanish title La Mesita Del Comedor, is the most disturbing piece of media I have consumed in a long time. It mixes dark humor with a parent’s worst nightmare. Casas delivers one of the most disturbing films of the decade that could only be compared to an Ari Aster film. A stunningly made and acted film that I hope I have the pleasure of never watching again.
The Coffee Table centers its story around Jesus (David Pareja), and Maria (Estefania de los Santos). They struggle to navigate parenthood and trouble within their marriage. The couple decides to spruce with their life with a new furniture purchase. Little do they know this coffee table would do more than decorate their living room. Jesus and Maria do not hide their marital issues as they go through their life bickering at most things. Jesus puts his foot down for seemingly the first time in their marriage, leading to repercussions beyond his imagination.
Discomforting Duo
Written by Casas along Cristina Borobia, the pair create many disturbing and hard to watch moments. The writing pair give little to any room for the audience to breathe. Casas and Borobia give Jesus and Maria long strings of dialogue with the camera focus closely on their faces. As madness, unbeknownst to Maria, is circling their small family. It’s hard to truly go into how disturbing this film is without sharing spoilers. As the story works best without prior knowledge of the conflict. The Coffee Table makes you question what kind of mind could cook up such a discomforting story?
What truly shines in The Coffee Table is the nail biting performances by David Pareja and Estefania de los Santos. As someone who doesn’t speak Spanish well enough to understand it spoken, their physical performances could tell the story perfectly. Pareja plays the role of a mentally drained husband almost too well. During the third act Pareja transforms as grief overcomes him, this is where his performance is at its best. Paired with Santos as she is the headstrong wife who prides herself on being a mother. She has a voice that forces you to watch even if you want to look away. She can sense that her husband is keeping a secret from her, one the audience is in on. And once she finds out you’ll want to scream alongside Santos.
Caving In
Almost the entirety of this film is shot in a small apartment that once belonged to the grandmother of Jesus. At first this apartment seems spacious and cozy, but it quickly becomes claustrophobic once the coffee table darkens its threshold. Dated pieces of furniture riddle the apartment. Making their new table stick out even more, an eye sore that causes permanent damage to their lives. There’s a frame in particular that is gut wrenching, but framed perfectly by Cinematographer Alberto Morajo. Visually this film has several shocking moments that will be burned into viewers minds for days.
Overall The Coffee Table is a film for those who have a strong stomach. Those that don’t shy away from disturbing horror films. It’s got incredibly solid performances that will make your skin crawl, paired with horrific imagery. It’s a film that has no bad guy to root against, nor a hero to cheer for. Whatever Casas does next, sign me up.
Where To Watch?
The Coffee Table is now available on VOD.
A film lover from Mid Michigan who is a voting member of Michigan Movie Critics Guild, and North American Film Critics Association.
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