Equals (2015) User Reviews

Nice world-building, now tell us an interesting story

[Rick-34 · 5/10 · 29 October 2016]

Equals is set in a futuristic world where, inexplicably, people have decided to "do away with emotions." Of course this phrase never has any real meaning, since any kind of inclination to do anything can be counted as an emotion. So really it's a sci-fi setting to explore the practice of the suppression of emotions. A problem which has never existed.

OK, before I trash the movie too much: the acting is fine, the set design and look are very good, and the world-building is excellent. But what is the story here? Two people who aren't supposed to fall in love do so anyway. Call me a cynic but I need more than that.

Compare and contrast Equals with The Lobster, another sci- fi/dystopian movie about suppressing emotions. Rather, The Lobster compares the societal demand that people form couples, regardless of how dysfunctional they are, against an underground movement of people who insist that being single should not be cause for rejection by society (though the rebels go too far the other way, adopting the "no emotional connections" attitude that fits with Equals). Somehow The Lobster manages to fit an interesting and funny story into the world. Equals? It gives us practically nothing.

Perhaps this is just a distillation of the concept of Forbidden Love. I really expected more.

Overused premise, but it has something else going on below the surface

[climbyourarms · 6/10 · 3 June 2017]

This movie feels like a blend of Equilibrium and Gattaca, to me. Equilibrium, because this is a dystopian society where it's wrong to feel emotions, and the world and wardrobe have the feel of Gattaca. Not much happens in this movie, and the pacing is slow. I know this sounds bad, and it would have been if not for the stellar chemistry between Kristen Stewart (Nia) and Nicholas Hoult (Silas).

This was the only redeeming aspect of the movie for me, and I think their chemistry may have been the entire point. By the end I was so vested in their relationship, I could feel the desire when they would look at each other and couldn't act on it, and feel their pain when they were apart.

The thought of being an adult and never knowing love. It's hard to imagine, but they captured it, and when they began to experience these feelings and sneak off to be together, watching them slowly touch, kiss... I don't recall them speaking much, but it was so beautiful I couldn't look away. The camera angles were great, visualizing fingertips, heaving breaths, zoomed in tight, at all the right angles. While sexual in away, their interactions were still innocent, childlike. It tapped into memories of my first experiences as a teen with my high school sweetheart, and how thrilling it was at the time. There is an interesting twist at the end, and if the movie resonates with you the way it did me, you will totally get it, and it will both break and warm your heart. Six stars for being an overused premise, but if you are into this kind of movie it's well worth the watch.

Predictable Blandness

[AZINDN · 6/10 · 27 May 2016]

It confounds that a contemporary society of film makers and actors should find the topic of dystopian love in all-white uniforms so fascinating yet are unable to create an original and creative manner to convey the story. Drake Doremus' Equals features Silas (Nicholas Hoult) and Nia (Kirsten Stewart) as the Romeo and Juliet of a post-Big War survivor social community of dullards whose existence is reduced to monosyllabic verbiage, right-angle utilitarian architecture, and conformist socialism. Breeding out sex as emotional savagery, any expression of normative human emotions has been turned into a social disease (SOS) that all are warned to be on alert to symptoms, take medical precautions and medications, and avoid contaminated persons as suspicious. That a society which found the cure for the common cold and cancer should be so adverse to color, racial diversity, and human sexuality becomes an inane setting for this story of repressive love in the bleach rinse.

Doremus vision is monochromatic and seems to drag on long past the obvious markers of inevitable storytelling. It was suggested that this film should have been a short, and an edit would have moved the action to its resolution with satisfaction. There is no mystery or even suspension of disbelief that can be sustained for the hour and half of this film's tale. Actors Hoult and Stewart find love on the public rest room floor of their work place, yet, the sterile nature of the sets make it seem less egregious than a romp in the sheets or shower. Hoult manages to convey the agitation of a lover whose partner conceals their shared love, and when she is discovered, conveys the anxiety of her forced incarceration for rehabilitation and ultimate fatal cure. It is more his film than Stewart, a relief as the format suits her non-emotive face. Silas is the emotional one not Nia, who is a hider of her contaminated SOS state.

Oddly, the society in which the characters inhabit is without personal communication devices forcing them to speak face to face rather than text, email, or use old fashion land-line phones. If society's goal is to render emotionless the interaction between persons, it missed the boat. Everyone speaks to one another, gathers together, and works in teams, the social interaction is pervasive. Minimally entertaining and satisfying, Equals misses with the exception of encouraging a desire to run naked through the woods leaping and shouting with joyful noise.

Rehashed to hell

[vasco_cid · 25 August 2016]

We shan't be fooled - original ideas, concepts and scripts come by very rarely these days. Over the years I've come to accept that we shall not blatantly blame the creative team for the lack of some originality whether it is on similar premise, plot points, slight clichés, or visual styles. But when the final product is just a lazy mash up all the above, ripped off of arguably better previous films, as well as famed English literature at its most obvious, is just harder to swallow. If you ever watched Kurt Wimmer's Equilibrium and Michael Bay's the Island you have most certainly watched Doremus' Equals.

Pretentiously disguising the outright obvious rehash of ideas of a dystopian society where the inhabitants are deprived of different forms of freedom for the sake of a Utopian perfect society, with slower pacing, contemplating set up shots and heartfelt-advertising- like cinematography, we are left with a most forgetful film that never once introduces a single differentiating or provocative element.

More Romance than Science Fiction

[tinkertayler · 7/10 · 11 July 2016]

Forget what the critics have to say. Everyone's a critic these days. Here's the 411: Equals is really, really good. Surprisingly good. Maybe even great.

The first thing you need to know is that this is NOT a sci-fi movie. It's a romance in a sci-fi setting. The world is mostly just an interesting backdrop, a vehicle used to explore the burgeoning relationship between Silas and Nia. The world isn't the most original--Gattaca, Equilibrium, THX 1138, and others will probably spring to mind--but while Equals shares similar aesthetics and themes with other films, its approach to the material is unique. It does away with violence, action sequences, technobabble, and pretentious social commentary. The future society and technology are almost tertiary elements. This story is fundamentally about love, intimacy, and human connection. Equals is soft sci-fi at its softest and most emotionally driven. If you're down with that, you'll enjoy the film.

I recall reading a derogatory comment from a critic that this movie looks like a perfume commercial. And you know what? It does. In the best way possible. The visuals are beautiful and dreamy, especially as the film progresses and emotions heighten. Neon lighting creates backlit silhouettes, warm colors creep into cool blue hues, and close-ups of the actors catch every subtle emotion playing across their faces. The images really start to immerse you in a hazy, intimate atmosphere. It's like watching a nostalgic dream...or the greatest perfume commercial ever made, I guess.

Good chemistry is required to effectively sell a romance like this, and the chemistry between the leads is INSANE. Nicholas Hoult and Kristen Stewart (aka Silas and Nia) spend a lot of time gazing at each other, touching each other, talking in hushed tones, and making out. On paper, that might sound treacly and annoying and reminiscent of bad YA fiction. Handled incorrectly, it could easily have come across that way. But here, it works. Director Drake Doremus knows what he's doing and the actors turn in honest performances. Hoult and Stewart exude some of the most electric on-screen chemistry that I've seen in a long time. Their scenes together spark, crackle, and burn. While never sexually graphic or gratuitous, the scenes between Nia and Silas are so genuinely raw and real that they manage to make you feel like you're watching something that you shouldn't be.

The score is also worth mentioning. It is ambient electronica bliss. Timeless and emotive, it complements the film perfectly. It performs a delicate balancing act; it sounds as though it belongs both to the cold, unemotional society the protagonists inhabit, and also to the warm, emotion-filled world of their love affair.

Kristen Stewart gets a lot of hate on the interwebz, but she is actually a compelling actress who shines in the right roles. She has idiosyncrasies, certainly--yes, she tends to touch her hair and she stammers sometimes--but her on-screen presence is one of a kind. I can't think of another young actress quite like her. She's enigmatic. She's magnetic. And she really pours her heart and soul into the role of Nia (as does Nicholas Hoult as Silas, but I personally found Nia's character arc more engaging).

Endings can make or break movies, and the ending of Equals completely makes it. The final minutes of this film are moving and unexpectedly resonant. On the surface, Equals is a Romeo & Juliet love story in a moody sci-fi setting, however, at its heart, it's about love and long-term commitments.

Equals is shamelessly romantic and without cynicism, and it reminds us why we put ourselves through the turmoil of intimate relationships. It reminds us why we are willing to get close to people despite the risk of losing them, willing to make ourselves vulnerable and open to being hurt, and willing to endure emotional pain, fear, and uncertainty.

We are willing because, cornball as it sounds, love makes life beautiful and worth living. "Just remember what this feels like," Nia pleads to Silas in one of the film's final scenes. It's a powerful moment, and essentially the film's thesis statement. Equals is about remembering what it feels like to fall in love and be in love; it's about recalling that heady, euphoric, terrified passion, and the transcendence of feeling truly connected to another person. The feelings are worth remembering, and Equals is a film worth watching.

Such a hard film to review!

[omendata · 7/10 · 7 June 2021]

Most people will find this rather boring and to be fair, I did at first but as you watch it, it pulls you in with its dystopian view of the quite possible future of mankind and the futility and pointlessness of existence in this robotic westworld and is so well pulled off that you cannot stop to admire how bleak but poignant the story is.

I do not like Kristen Stewart as an actress to be honest as I find she evokes no emotion and has one forward gear but nothing else but paradoxically she is actually perfect for this role as is her equally strange lover Nicholas Hoult who I am also not that fond of but both play their parts well.

This is one of those films you start to hate as you watch but as it winds its way to the end, you just cannot stop but admire how well the story plays out and although a lot of the reviewers seem to hate the ending, I love it when we do not get the usual Hollywood formula ending and we get a true to life or thought provoking denouement that actually left me with a tear in my eye (just a little one though - anyone see the Bears game last night? >;o)), so this goes from a 4 out of 10 first half to a very solid 7/10 overall for me.

PS. "The Bears game" reference is the scene in Planes, Trains and Automobiles pillow scene for those that are wondering - 10 stars if you got it, you are obviously a movie fan like me!

target audience???

[jaimedelgado-1 · 7/10 · 19 May 2020]

Well if you are a guy you're going to love sci fi movies with lots of action, or you can even enjoy the super slow pace of THX-1138 but I don't know if you are going to like Equals but maybe your girlfriend, sister or mom will, so give it a try with an open mind and don't expect much action here but maybe get ready for some tears. PS> reviewing this in 2020 its very scary what is happening where government has more control over us by giving us a false sense of security (safety) in exchange for giving away our rights so the line between science fiction and reality is starting to blur

How many times can this movie get made?

[amazon-621-902228 · 3/10 · 2 November 2016]

This is SUCH a tired theme... sterile emotionless future society, yet two people are different, fall in love, and fight the system... When George Orwell did it in "1984" it was still reasonably fresh, but that was almost 70 years ago.

"Equals" stars Nicholas Hoult (the creepy kid from "About a Boy" grown up, and even creepier) and Kristen Stewart (known catatonic) really have no chemistry and the movie gives them no reason to be together except they're both "different."

Watching on DVD, I saw a lot of visual "banding" issues, and the audio was largely, well, inaudible. And this universe is all touchscreens and barcode scanners that constantly ping and whoo, which becomes really grating even 10 minutes in... ick.

Instead of this, I'd suggest "Gattaca" -- http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119177/ -- That was 20 years ago, and the premise was already getting threadbare by then, but at least there are some interesting stakes and twists and performances from Jude Law, Alan Arkin, Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke.

Or maybe "The Island" -- http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0399201/ -- yes, Michael Bay, so plenty o' 'splosions, but at least it's a decent premise and has lots of good twists.

Even good old "Logan's Run" -- http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074812/ -- handles this material in a more interesting manner -- it's pretty cheesy in terms of effects and costumes (it was 40 years ago so cut it some slack), but much more fun.

The commentary on the disc tries to position the film as some great love story that just happens to be set in this cliché future, but there's almost nothing there. Skip it, or at least lower your expectations.

For me, a near masterpiece

[elliskjames · 9/10 · 26 June 2016]

I'll tell you what you need to know: if you like movies like this, you'll like this one. Maybe a whole lot. It's a science fiction movie with heart, that doesn't rely on explosions and death rays and warp speed travel, and it sheds light on things that are happening in our society today. The acting is very, very good. There is genuine chemistry between the leads, and they were both born to play these parts. The movie makes you think and feel. It's smart and it's deep. It's internally consistent. The soundtrack works. You can learn from it. There aren't anywhere near enough movies like this being made these days.

Some people hated this movie. A lot of times, I think people that hate a movie like this are people who don't like the fact that their own shortcomings are being exposed.

For me, when the movie ended, I experienced body-wide chills, and my eyes filled with tears. I loved it. I subtract a point because, from time to time, it moves a bit slower than it might need to. It's not quite an all time science fiction masterpiece, but it's close. It'll move you. You'll remember it. It'll give you something to talk about. It's a date movie you can both enjoy.

If you like movies like this, you know who you are, and you can't possibly miss this movie. You won't. You're too smart for that.

It started out like a boring version of Equilibrium...

[FreyaBarlow · 7/10 · 2 July 2016]

So, when I started watching this movie I immediately felt like I was watching a super slow and action free version of Equilibrium. The similarities in design of everything are staggering. Once I was able to move beyond that and things started to slowly happen in the film I was able to see the different world that this film was about. This film is a love story and there really isn't anything sci-fi about it. I was fascinated by how they remove emotions in this world, and the fact that it also apparently removes pain. The idea of no pain on top of no emotion seems a little overkill to me. Also dangerous as heck...what if someone falls and injures their back? How are they going to know exactly how bad their injury is? As Silas and Nia delve into their relationship and feelings I knew they were ultimately going to have sex. Several of the events were predictable once I understood the formula of the movie I knew how it was going to end. Once they had sex I knew she would become pregnant...I knew they would come up with a "cure" for SOS...I knew that some disaster would separate them and make them feel hopeless...and that they would ultimately find each other again and head out of the collective.

That being said, it was still an enjoyable movie and one of Kristen Stewart's better performances, so I have to give it points there. The real star though is the guy that played Silas. I want to see more from him.

Can't really summarize a movie where nothing happens.

[hthbrr2 · 1/10 · 19 July 2016]

So all I can do is describe what I saw. OK so people wear lots of white. Lots of walking. Scanning. Umm, they go to work. Then walk, more scanning, back home, eat food. Everything is white, oh some gray colors as well. They use technology as well and talk sometimes to each other.

Umm oh yes lots of showering! Can't get those white clothes/surroundings dirty now! Umm....then what?

Well OK let's talk about what this movie is supposed to be about. We are in the future, and humans had to get rid of emotions because....umm that was not really explained either. I guess it's a post apocalyptic world where they HAD to do this...AGAIN my OWN mind is creating MORE plot for this movie than the movie itself did LOL

So suddenly, randomly, out of no where with AGAIN no explanation people have emotions again....OK. ??? So wait, is this true or have people just been hiding emotions all along? What is even real? Well movie has no answers since it has no plot or really anything.

OK....really grasping at straws now to review this empty movie...umm. Oh yes let's talk about the acting. Nicholas Hoult is a fantastic actor as are most of the people in this 'film'. Trying to be all Vulcan, having emotions but not showing them. I think Kristen Stewart's agent thought she FINALLY found a movie where she can shine. Playing a character that has no emotions. Seeing as though she can express nothing at all other than b!tch face. But no Kstew just looks depressed and ugly. I just don't get how they took this beautiful girl and took away the only thing she has going for her at this point, her looks. Whereas Hoult is represented as the handsome guy he is. She looks like hell. I just don't get it, why did they go out of their way to make her look ugly? Goodness knows she can't act.

Umm so yeah apparently these two actors are supposed to fall in 'love' or 'lust' again the movie does not explain sh!t as there is no plot. All we see is talking/mumbling, walking, eating, showering, staring. As if you thought Twilight was a pointless movie! In this movie LESS happens! If you can believe it!

So they plan to runaway...to ...somewhere (once again no real plot or explanation) but wait they found a cure for 'emotions' can they overcome it? Umm, that is never explained either. This movie really takes the cake for never explaining things. Attention filmmakers if you want to make a futuristic movie/minimalism/clean lines/etc...you STILL have to EXPLAIN sh!t to us. You STILL have to have a PLOT. You still have to have DIALOGUE/EVENTS/SET UPS/CONCLUSIONS. Get it? This movie just runs and you are lost the whole time. It's like mystery movies, your characters should be in the dark, NOT your audience!

So if you like movies where nothing happens, the color white and gray, calm showering, and little dialogue then boy is this the movie for you!

Love it or hate it I guess

[iam_theeridan · 8/10 · 11 December 2018]

I think this is a movie where you either love it or hate it. I loved it needless to say. The film itself is quite slow and for the first portion of the movie very dull to look at which reflects just how perfect the society they live in is. Once the colors start showing up and the music kicks in though you're hooked. The story is one we've all seen before, but it still was done well and seems fresh in this movie. The romance is slow at first but then goes full force as you watch two people experience love for the first time in their lives.

Even if you hated this movie you have to admit that its beautiful to look at and the music really helps set the tone.

Brave New World meets Romeo and Juliet, with a little Eternal Sunshine for posterity

[orangecrush-915-891222 · 7/10 · 8 July 2017]

Throughout my entire first watching of the film I was left with the impression that this movie takes place in the same universe as Equilibrium. Same plot line. Same history. So instead of feeling like this movie is a copycat, I went with the idea that it is just another story line from the same time-line. This makes it easier to watch. That being said, this movie is basically just a string of recognizable ideas. I would never describe it as original, or surprising. It seemed like the love child of many different well-known stories. The movie was brilliantly filmed, however. And the main actors did a fantastic job. It was fun to watch from beginning to end; compelling, interesting, and emotionally moving. It is worth a watch.

Stylish and boring

[angelman66 · 4/10 · 16 January 2021]

Halfway through it on TV. Nicholas Hoult is gorgeous to look at, and the production design is chic. Fun to see Dark Shadows star David Selby again after all these years. Kristen Stewart has a flat monotone voice in every film...she is so boring here and in everything else I have ever struggled through with her.

The only point of light is Guy Pearce, who is incredibly charismatic and so far has only had one brief scene which perked me up. I was about to change the channel but have stuck with it but if Guy doesn't come back soon, I'm done.

1984 and Brave New World sans the intelligence of Orwell and Huxley. Style over substance, as always....

Blown away by it!

[Gordon-11 · 27 August 2016]

This film tells the story of a futuristic world where people have no emotions, and any display of emotions is a disorder treated by death. Two individuals find themselves feeling for each other, and they have to do everything they can to avoid their fate.

"Equals" is very visually stunning. The sets are really beautifully minimialistic. The lighting is great as well, I love how the cold colour lighting complements the atmosphere of the film. The wardrobe is great as well, the white colour scheme really works, everyone looks so stylish and smart in the film. The whole atmosphere of the film is very well thought out and effectively presented to the viewers, immersing me into this strange futuristic world. The story is very engaging too. I just love "Equals". I am blown away by it, it is my clear favourite film in this genre.

It is not a story about future, for now

[sykim-syk · 6/10 · 1 November 2016]

I selected movie on internet without much expectation According to summary it supposed to be sci fiction movie As movie opens up, I felt more and more this is the issue in current society. Even though we living in emotion free world, yet not everyone allows themselves to feel them. It forces the emotionless in the movie, but we sometimes force emotionless by ourselves based on circumstances, SO's socially status, family issue and so on. Also when someone feels too much emotions, we consider that person weak other than sensitive human being. I myself tried to many times not to show emotions in front of not only in work places but also family and friends cause it can be too much to someone. This movie is brilliantly made and hope many people watches it and get little more emotional about the movie and themselves for good.

Kristen Stewart

[btreakle · 7/10 · 13 August 2020]

Not my favorite Kristen Stewart movie but that being said it still well worth the watch. Love these futuristic films. I love Kristen Stewart

No, this is not Equalibrium . . . an entirely different experience

[charles000 · 7/10 · 16 January 2017]

Yes, of course, obviously, for the casual observer, Equilibrium comes to mind.

But beyond that simplistic, surface veneer comparison, this is an entirely different experience. If anything, the minimalistic yet compellingly powerful treatment of this production and much of its core theme is more closely in sync with the classic film GATTACCA, somewhat intersecting with Code 46.

No, there is no blazing CGI, militaristic action scenes, and other such glitzy eye candy features. If that sort of content is the desired ingredients for attraction, this production will seem "slow", and probably won't resonate with your usual requirements for entertainment.

But that's not the point of this film, far from it.

Many of the other reviewers here go into considerable detail on the aesthetic content of the production and plot particulars, so no need to repeat such again.

I might offer, though, that Kristen Stewart was surprisingly on point as Nia. If anything, I might have been a bit skeptical going in with her as a lead character, but her performance was considerably more than expected.

This is a film that will stick with you for some time to come, not because of blaring action scenes or uniquely original story concepts, but because of what it makes you feel, and perhaps give some thought and contemplation to.

A very solid 7 out of 10 for me.

Potentially the most dull film I've ever watched

[bdbdbd01 · 3/10 · 3 August 2018]

I really struggled to stay awake with this one. I get what the message is, but it's too dragged out and dull. The idea is good, although already done in other films. It's well acted, although Kristen's mostly just doing the same sad face as in throughout Twilight. I couldn't understand a load of dialogue as they were speaking so dully. And the music score is dull.

Beautiful

[longstemz21 · 9/10 · 29 May 2016]

I thought the film was beautiful in it's simplicity. Left with an open ending (i never enjoy those), the watcher of course is forced to wonder. I imagine, and the direction the last scene showed rather confirms, that his emotions returned shortly thereafter and that they made it out to live their lives together. I also like to imagine they found the other survivors at The Peninsula, already established with food and shelter, etc. Of course, with no confirmation, we'll never know. I'm sick of hearing band wagoners complaining of Kristen Stewarts lack of emotion, it only shows that they're the ones lacking. She portrays many emotions, they flit across her face, in her eyes. She brings life to an otherwise dull scene. And Hoult has been on my radar since Skins, and I'm so pleased to see him rising the ranks here in the US. They both have exceptional talent.

Dystopian Psychological Thriller

[jesser299 · 6/10 · 22 July 2021]

The stark, white, clinical setting of this film gives it a cool dystopian feeling. Kristin Stewart is fantastic. It's the kind of film that makes you think. I would have ranked it a 7 or 8 but I wasn't in love with the way it ended. The ending didn't ruin it for me, but I did feel it could have been better.

Same (in)difference

[kosmasp · 5/10 · 4 February 2017]

I think I have to watch Gattaca again. I remember having issues with that, but maybe the second time around and especially after watching this rather mediocre attempt/stab at a society that is not allowed to feel anything, I may look at it with a different perspective. Having said, it's not all bad here. It is by the numbers and it works for what it is I reckon, but that might not be enough for some.

Having said that, the actors try their best to shine in this dystopian landscape which isn't that easy. Still predictable, even without some notions and inserts, this will not surprise too many viewers. It flows along nicely though and at least doesn't fail its goals

Very under-rated Movie

[Sergiodave · 8/10 · 21 September 2016]

Equals is a Science fiction love story set in a dystopian future, where the citizens are de-sensitised from showing emotions and love. If you're wanting guns, aliens and corny one-liners then this movie is definitely not for you. If, on the other hand you like more sedate and intellectual sci-fi, then I strongly recommend 'Equals'. Kristen Stewart and Nicholas Hoult play the lead roles with fine support from Guy Pearce and Jacki Weaver. The chemistry between the lead roles is spot on, the music score is great, the direction and screenplay by Drake Doremus are both excellent. Ignore the naysayers watch it, like me you might be greatly surprised

Could have gone worse

[tronicum · 7/10 · 25 December 2021]

The movie reminds me of an crossover between "Gattaca" and "The Island".

I am little bit annoyed that it's an dystopian and highly controlled society but their secret love is not detected by any of the checkpoints that are shown when they go to work and day to day living.

Why would their flat or access to buildings be without surveillance?

Even on their final train ride there is an announcement that this train is only for passengers with special permissions, how did they get it?

If you overlook this small story wholes and the blade runner original cut style open ending you can enjoy this movie.

a total yawn

[phd_travel · 2/10 · 17 December 2016]

This movie is boring - despite having 2 famous young stars not enough happens.

The vaguely familiar plot is about an emotionless world. Hence the emotionless acting and bland faces. At first it's interesting to see the futuristic settings. Later as the 2 infected leads discover sex there seems to be little emotion or romance or passion. Just as cold with emotion as without. What happens is predictable - an attempted cure and escape.

This movie lacks the inventiveness and creativity of the older sci fi movies like Soylent Green, Planet of the Apes, Logan's Run - the list goes on.

Give this one a miss even if you are a fan of K Stew of Nicholas Hoult.