Seeking out the

5000 greatest films

in a century of cinema

The Humans


Directed by Stephen Karam
Produced by Stephen Karam and Louise Lovegrove
Written for the screen by Stephen Karam Based on the play by Stephen Karam
With: Richard Jenkins, Jayne Houdyshell, Amy Schumer, Beanie Feldstein, Steven Yeun, and June Squibb
Cinematography: Lol Crawley
Editing: Nick Houy
Music: Nico Muhly
Runtime: 108 min
Release Date: 24 November 2021
Aspect Ratio: 1.85 : 1
Color: Color
Twitter Capsule:
Stephen Karam films his 2016 Tony-Award winning one-act play about a dysfunctional family Thanksgiving set in a deteriorating New York apartment as if it were a psychological horror movie, which it is. Might be a bit highfalutin' to call it Chekhov shot like Polanski, but the characters and cast, unsettling visual style and creepy sound design, theatrical dialogue and subtly layered thematic exploration all work harmoniously. A rare play adaptation that makes you wonder how it ever worked on stage. Gets deep under your skin and doesn't let go.