Existential stories are not about the issues of the day and the specific problems in a point in time. They deal with the timeless, universal questions. Why am I here? What is the meaning of my existence?
-statement from the director
Mr. K is an enigmatic and surreal odyssey into the absurd, blending Kafkaesque existentialism with dark comedy. Directed by Tallulah H. Schwab, the film immerses viewers in a peculiar and unsettling world where logic is elusive, and bureaucracy reigns supreme.
At its center is Mr. K, played with eccentric precision by Crispin Glover, a man who checks into an ominous hotel only to find himself trapped in an increasingly bizarre and unexplainable series of encounters. What begins as a seemingly mundane stay soon spirals into a nightmarish maze of misunderstandings, authority figures, and existential questioning.
The title is a direct homage to the protagonist of Franz Kafka’s novel The Castle. In this instance, Mr K, simply known as “K,” arrives in a village governed by a mysterious castle and struggles to gain access to its authorities, constantly encountering bureaucratic hurdles and an impenetrable system that prevents him from achieving his goal of being recognized and accepted. Schwab’s Mr K struggles with his own recognition as a magician, finding himself lost in a mysterious castle of his own.
Schwab crafts a world that feels both detached from reality and uncomfortably familiar. The hotel itself becomes a character—its shadowy hallways, sterile rooms, and disorienting corridors reinforcing the protagonist’s entrapment. There’s an eerie, almost dreamlike quality to the way events unfold, as Mr. K’s attempts to navigate his strange surroundings only pull him deeper into a spiral of confusion. The setting is oppressive, yet it never veers into outright horror; instead, it thrives on a creeping sense of unease punctuated by moments of deadpan humor.
Crispin Glover is perfectly cast as the bewildered protagonist, embodying the kind of outsider figure that has long defined existential narratives. His performance is a fascinating mix of subtle exasperation and theatricality, making Mr. K both an everyman and a figure just as odd as the world he finds himself in. The supporting cast—ranging from enigmatic staff members to peculiar guests—adds to the film’s surreal tone, each character seemingly operating under a logic that remains just out of reach.
Visually, the film leans into a muted, almost antiseptic color palette, heightening the sense of alienation. The cinematography makes use of rigid framing and off-kilter angles, visually trapping the audience alongside Mr. K. Each shot feels meticulously composed to emphasize the protagonist’s growing disorientation, while the sound design—a blend of distant echoes, unsettling silences, and mechanical hums—adds another layer to the film’s nightmarish quality. As Mr. K tumbles deeper into the darkness of this world, each frame cements itself an illuminated visual treat.
Thematically, Mr. K explores the absurdity of authority, the search for meaning in a chaotic world, and the way systems—whether bureaucratic or societal—tend to grind down the individual. Mr K himself comes to be known by the other guests (or residents) as the liberator—but from what, and whom, is up to you to decide.
Schwab’s approach is methodical, unspooling the mystery at an intentionally measured pace, forcing the audience to sit with discomfort. It’s the kind of film that demands patience, rewarding those willing to engage with its offbeat rhythm and opaque storytelling.
While Mr. K is not a film that will appeal to everyone—its deliberate ambiguity and slow burn may frustrate viewers looking for clear answers—it is undeniably a bold and thought-provoking cinematic experience. It sits in the tradition of filmmakers like Roy Andersson and Yorgos Lanthimos, blending bleak humor with a sense of existential dread.
Those who enjoy films that challenge conventional storytelling and linger in the subconscious long after the credits roll will find Mr. K to be an unsettling yet strangely captivating journey.
