Sundance 2024 Film Festival – Edward (Sebastian Stan) is a struggling actor with a unique look. His face, covered in neurofibromatosis Edward is a quiet, soft-spoken individual who longs to be “normal.” Taking a chance, he agrees to a new medical procedure to reverse his disfigurement. The problem is that a new face won’t fix what’s wrong with Edward. A Different Man, written and directed by Aaron Schimberg, is a fascinating comic thriller that explores identity and how we assume that we are perceived by others. It’s a bit of a slow-paced exploration but the ideas that the film presents are endlessly fascinating. Sporting a pensive script and a great trio of leads, this is one to catch.

Before his procedure, Edward makes friends with his new neighbor Ingrid (Renate Reinsve). Seemingly unaffected by his facial features, Ingrid forms a friendship with Edward, and the two discuss his acting career and her stalled writing endeavors. Thinking that looking like everyone else will help his career and romantic interest in Ingrid, Edward takes part in a dangerous experimental study. To his amazement, the treatment works, and viola, his neurofibromatosis falls from his face and he is average. No more awkward stares and weird moments. or so he thinks.

In a strange moment, Edward disappears with his new face and creates a new life in the city. He ends up finding Ingrid again who is now staging a play based on Edward’s past life. Edward, unrecognized by Ingrid, jumps at the chance to audition. No sooner does he get the role than the outgoing Oswald (Adam Pearson) appears. Oswald copes with the same malady Edward once had, but he has a wonderfully healthy take on things. Soon, Edward is again threatened by Oswald who begins moving in on Edward’s aspirations both professional and romantic.

Stan gives a wonderfully manic performance as the malcontent Edward. His fixation on how others perceive him is his downfall, never truly happy with his life. Stan expresses his emotions with a physicality that barrels through the brilliant makeup effects in the first act of the film to make us believe his neurotic behavior. Too, Pearson is the perfect comic foil to Stan’s perpetually disgruntled Edward.

Schimberg‘s script is a clever deep dive into how we perceive who we are and how we are affected by the perceptions of others. The downside is that there are a few key moments that don’t make a lot of sense. There was no real need for Edward to disappear after his appearance changed. It makes little sense. I can believe that Edward would lose his mind but another final act story beat comes out of nowhere, only serving to add a button to a section of the characters and their lives.

Slight qualms with a few story beats aside, A Different Man is a worthy psychological thriller that explores some deep questions while it makes us laugh out loud.

7 Out of 10