A Cinematic Oddity: Serenity

      Matthew Shepherd on the 2019 film Serenity…

      There exists a distinct type of Hollywood movie that contradicts all rationale. Not one that was meant to fail from the outset — like a low-budget film lacking star power that gets forgotten — but one that arrives with every possible advantage yet still manages to disappear completely. Steven Knight's neo-noir Serenity from 2019 exemplifies this phenomenon in recent memory. It features two Oscar-winning actors, a celebrated director at the height of his career, and a talented supporting cast, yet somehow, few people have heard of it, and even fewer have watched it. Those who did are left perplexed by what they experienced.

      At a glance, the premise appears straightforward. Matthew McConaughey portrays Baker Dill, a fishing boat captain enjoying a tranquil, sunny life on the fictional Plymouth Island. His peaceful existence is upended when his ex-wife Karen, played by Anne Hathaway, unexpectedly appears with a proposal: eliminate her wealthy, abusive new spouse Frank (Jason Clarke) by pushing him off a boat during a fishing excursion, and in exchange, claim ten million dollars. It resembles a classic noir scenario featuring a femme fatale, a morally ambiguous protagonist, money, violence, all set in an attractive locale.

      What makes Serenity's obscurity even more puzzling is the cast involved. This marked the first and only collaboration between McConaughey and Hathaway since Interstellar, Christopher Nolan's 2014 sci-fi blockbuster that earned nearly $700 million globally. Their reunion should have made waves in the film world. At the same time, Knight was at the peak of his success — Peaky Blinders had established him as a revered figure in television, and his 2013 film Locke, which mainly takes place inside a car with Tom Hardy, showcased his ability to create serious cinema on a smaller budget. The remaining cast included Diane Lane, Jason Clarke, Djimon Hounsou, and Jeremy Strong — all well-regarded actors, with Strong on the verge of the fame brought by Succession that would label him one of his generation's most celebrated performers. Every aspect suggested it would be a guaranteed hit and worth viewing.

      The film was filmed entirely in Mauritius, becoming the first full-length Hollywood production to do so. This choice might seem unconventional, but there was practical reasoning: the production needed calm, shallow waters for extensive boating scenes, and Mauritius's reef system provided a natural tank, saving costs on studio alternatives. The island also offered a generous production rebate, which helped stretch the film's budget. Knight sought a location that could evoke the Caribbean, Africa, or anything in between. However, shipping equipment from South Africa and bringing in crew members from various locations resulted in a complex production that added logistical challenges without enhancing the final product onscreen.

      The most peculiar aspect of the film is its marketing—or rather, the lack thereof. Distributor Aviron Pictures initially planned a broad release campaign. However, after the test screenings, everything changed. Aviron discreetly withdrew the marketing budget and released the film with minimal promotional effort. Reports indicate that McConaughey and Hathaway were furious; they had anticipated a proper marketing push, not a January release. Aviron itself acknowledged that after numerous tests, the film's data was unpromising, leading to adjustments. The film's production cost was $25 million, but it only grossed approximately $8.5 million worldwide. This isn’t just underperformance; it’s a near-complete failure during a pre-COVID period when audiences were actively attending theaters.

      Aviron's panic becomes understandable—and somewhat justifiable—once you witness the film’s third act. Serenity unexpectedly reveals, with little foreshadowing, that Plymouth Island isn’t real; it’s a video game. Baker Dill is a character programmed by his son Patrick, a traumatized teen who lost his actual father in the Iraq War and created a fishing simulator to preserve his memory. This concept might seem improbable, but it becomes even stranger. As Patrick’s home life worsens due to his stepfather’s abuse, he alters the game to incorporate a murder. The bizarre subplot involving Jeremy Strong, who portrays a mysterious businessman attempting to sell Baker a fish finder and appearing at odd times, is clarified by this revelation: he is a glitch in the game, representing the rules that maintain the simulation’s integrity. In hindsight, every odd and slightly offbeat moment in the first two-thirds of the film is deliberate. Initially, it feels more like poor writing.

      It's difficult to determine if Serenity's twist represents an audacious metaphor for simulation theory or one of the most miscalculated structural decisions in contemporary blockbuster filmmaking. The truth likely resides somewhere in the middle. However, what it certainly is, is something no marketing team can adequately convey. How do you market a straightforward noir thriller when the third act transforms it into a Black Mirror episode? The answer is simple: you don't. You scale back the campaign quietly and hope to mitigate the fallout