The Surfer Review: Nicolas Cage Shines in a Slow-Burn Thriller That Misses the Wave

There are films whose trailers induce a sense of confusion that stays intact till the film gets released and you finish watching it. Till the last minute of the film, you don’t know how to react- whether it is anger, confusion, happiness, or sadness, and such is Nicolas Cage’s The Surfer. 

Here is our version of The Surfer review that will help you decide whether you should buy tickets, go surfing to the theaters to watch it, or skip it for now. 

Plot details of The Surfer

In our previous article, we gave an overview of the plot of The Surfer. Still, for revisiting purposes, Nicolas Cage played the titular role whose name remains unknown till the end of the film. He comes to his favorite childhood beach with his son to buy his family house and show his son how to enjoy the waves.

However, some locals don’t give them a chance to do so and start misbehaving with Cage in front of his son. This local gang of surfers, The Bay Boys, kept claiming strict ownership of the beach that was strongly connected to Cage’s childhood memory. 

Enraged, Cage decides to stay on the beach as a declaration of war and loses more and more of himself, both physically and psychologically. As the conflict escalates, he reaches the brink of insanity, where a series of events leads him to over-the-top psychedelic experiences for the surfer. 

Watch the trailer here for a recap:  

Nicolas Cage’s performance in The Surfer

This is a film that surfs solely on the shoulders of Nicolas Cage. With the retro background music playing in the scenes that wonderfully matched Cage’s psychological experiences in the scorching heat, he invested himself fully as a cinematic freak-out man that we loved to watch.

It isn’t simply the case of a weirdo acting weird in public places- it was about his true helplessness for two small things he came all the way here for: his home and the desire to surf again on the beach. 

He is seen struggling with his determination to get things done in the most troubling scenarios, focusing more on his anguish sometimes, but his endurance gives up inexplicably. The intensity and commitment his character made use of to descend into a maniac pushed his boundaries of acting, turning out to be truly commendable. 

He was full of groundedness in the most vulnerable and heartbreaking situations, especially when the young locals were bullying him to get his ring. He just wanted to take the call from the ringing phone booth, which wasn’t ringing in reality. 

Everyone was laughing at him, and he was just standing there, weak and defenseless. His madness, compelling him to become someone that he once despised, is an outstanding portrayal of the character’s obsession with his aims. 

Other than Cage, no actor could have pulled off this role with such a range of emotions, demonstrating anger and euphoric moments beautifully, giving us a memorable viewing experience for life. Cage was delusional, and we loved it!

What do critics add to The Surfer review?

The critics’ consensus on Rotten Tomatoes gave a positive review of the film. It said, 

“Nicolas Cage expertly rides the waves of toxic masculinity in this sand filled arena of torment.” [Source]

The critics agreed that several film’s elements fit perfectly well with Cage’s dynamic acting, such as a “wildlife-filled soundtrack, oversaturated colors and sweaty heat shimmer” that complemented his mental decline. There is no doubt left about Cage’s magnificence, however, the overall film did not offer much except Cage’s plot.

Some of the critics felt that there was no moral lesson like the usual movies do, and does not yield much that should stay on our minds for long.   

Fans reaction

Fans are not very excited about this one as they called it a “yawner”. They called it boring and thoughts that the ending was abrupt. Although some were head over heels for Cage’s acting, they did not praise the director and writer much as they were openly “disappointed”.  

Is it worth watching?

For Nicolas Cage, yes- otherwise, no. The movie is a slow drag of the surfer’s goal of coming to the Australian beach, where his condition is seen deteriorating with each passing day. At certain points, the film does offer some intriguing points that make us think one thing is mysteriously connected to the other, but the ending is too quick and too simple.

 

 

 

 

 

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There was not much for us to ponder deeply about what was happening in the film. It was just an emotional torment that we watched for one and a half hours straight and misfired in the name of Nicolas Cage.  

Our rating: 6

Is The Surfer available for streaming? 

The Surfer (rated R) is currently playing in cinemas, via Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions.  

Genre: Psychological thriller

IMDb rating: 6.5

Rotten Tomatoes: 86 percent on Tomatometer (critics’ score) and 46 percent on Popcornmeter 

Cast: Nicolas Cage, Finn Little, Rahel Rohman, Justin Rosniak, Julian McMahon, Nicholas Cassim, Miranda Tapsell, Alexander Bertrand

Director: Lorcan Finnegan

Writer: Thomas Martin

Producers: Leonora Darby, James Harris, Robert Connolly, James Grandison, Brunella Cocchiglia, Nicolas Cage, Nathan Klingher

Release date: May 2, 2025

Movie runtime: 1 hour 43 minutes  

Do you agree with the review here? How did you find The Surfer? Share your thoughts in the comments below.