Be careful what you take a bite out of this spring. A24's Men follows Harper (Jessie Buckley), a widow who visits the English countryside after the tragic death of her husband (Paapa Essiedu). What should be a relaxing trip turns into a nightmare as Harper is seemingly followed out of the woods by an unknown individual. Better still, every man in town looks exactly like the owner of her rental house Geoffrey (Rory Kinnear). Described as a shape-shifting horror, the film is written and directed by Alex Garland, known for his Academy Award-winning directorial debut Ex Machina.

With Men's trailer release, speculation over what the film means and questions about why Kinnear is seemingly playing every man linger in a viewer's mind. While the trailer does not answer these questions, it does provide insight into potential themes that could be explored in the film and the nuances that could make Men stand out from others utilizing similar themes.

The Dynamic Between Light and Dark

a24 men apple picking
A24

The A24 logo is made from apples, and then apples are seen throughout the trailer. Harper even eats one from a tree in the area surrounding Geoffrey's home. When she comments on how delicious it was, Geoffrey jokes with her that it's forbidden fruit and she shouldn't eat it. While she laughs it off, apples seem to be strongly connected to whatever follows her home from the woods. As Harper fears whatever, or whomever, is around her rented property, all the apples start to fall from a tree before someone or something steps out of the darkness.

Related: These Are Jessie Buckley's Best Performances, Ranked

The immediate reference to forbidden fruit brings up biblical themes, specifically from "The Book of "Genesis." In the story, Adam and Eve eat fruit from the tree of knowledge and then are thrown out of Paradise. While it is unknown what fruit the tree produced, it is commonly associated with an apple. Forbidden fruit often brings up themes of good and evil, light and dark, and sin and virtue. Harper eating from the tree may have started the series of events that led her to be followed as a type of reprimand for her sin. The falling of the apples could also mean that what light was left around Harper is gone, opening her up to the darkness that might lurk in the town or woods.

Light and dark (and the other variations it goes by) is a common theme in cinema, with many horror films using it literally. Drawing on the use of fruit to potentially relay it is certain to provide a unique viewing experience.

Women and Believability

a24 men graveyard
A24

As the trailer shows us, Harper's husband died in front of her. As she opens up to a priest, he takes a beat to absorb what she told him. Then he asks if she feels guilty for pushing him to it, for driving him to it, suggesting only she is at fault for what happened. This isn't the only case of a man hinting that Harper may be to blame for a situation or may not be a reliable narrator to those around her. When she goes to a pub and tells the man behind the counter she thinks a man is following her because she saw him twice, the other men at the bar only brush her off, saying the man probably didn't even notice her. That is clearly not the case when the same figure appears from behind the shadow of the apple tree and seems to try to get into her rented home.

Women not being believed is a very real experience. In particular, many women that report crimes or potential crimes that impact them are victim-blamed or told they deserved what happened to them. In this case, Harper is the indirect victim of a tragedy and seemingly the victim of stalking. The trailer shows us watching Harper see it happen, and she is trying to deal with the aftermath of that. The film may provide commentary on victim-blaming or shaming, showing how those types of reactions to being vulnerable with someone can impact one's wellbeing. It may also dive into widow's guilt as the audience sees the full conversation between Harper and the priest.

The Fear of Being Followed or Invaded

Jessie Buckley
A24

The fear of being followed or someone invading your private sanctuary is a very real fear that many have. In Harper's case, she fears someone followed her out of the woods and that they're trying to enter her home. It does appear as though two separate individuals enter her home in the trailer, both of whom are not welcome. Harper is shown demanding someone to stay away while wielding a knife at them, showing she is fearful of this person's intentions.

Related: Best Home Invasion Movies of All Time, Ranked

This is a common theme in horror movies, with films like The Strangers and Hush reinforcing that fear in the public eye, and it seems it will be present in Men. However, because all the men in town appear to have the same face, it may take this fear to a new level. The revelation of her trauma may also add another layer to this. It is implied that Harper is on this vacation to heal, and people invading the home she's staying in could also be a metaphor for them intruding on her healing process.

Based on the trailer, it's likely themes of this nature will be present throughout Men. Common themes like light and dark and fear of invasion seem like obvious candidates to appear in the film. Still, the framework is there for a more nuanced approach, with the possibility to create a different dynamic and unique experience.