Yorgos Lanthimos’ The Lobster is a surreal, darkly comedic, and deeply unsettling dystopian film that explores themes of love, conformity, and societal pressure in a world where being single is a punishable offense. Released in 2015 and starring Colin Farrell, the movie has become a modern cult classic for fans of thought-provoking cinema.
Detailed Summary
Introduction: A Society That Outlaws Singleness
Set in a dystopian near-future, the film introduces us to David (Colin Farrell), a man whose wife has just left him. In this society, being single is illegal. Newly single people are taken to a hotel where they have 45 days to find a new romantic partner. If they fail, they are transformed into an animal of their choosing. David chooses to become a lobster if he fails—because lobsters live for over 100 years and remain fertile for life.
Life in the Hotel: Forced Romance and Fake Connections
At the hotel, guests must prove they’re compatible with someone to avoid being turned into an animal. Compatibility is judged based on superficial similarities, such as shared physical traits or personal quirks. For example, one woman pretends to have frequent nosebleeds just to match with a man who genuinely does.
The hotel enforces bizarre rules: masturbation is forbidden, staff simulate sexual stimulation to encourage coupling, and guests hunt “loners” in the woods to earn extra days. David, increasingly desperate, pretends to be emotionless to attract a sociopathic woman. This leads to one of the film’s darkest sequences, where he fakes emotional detachment as she commits cruel acts—including killing his dog (who was once his brother). This act breaks David’s façade, and he attacks the woman, flees the hotel, and joins the loners.
Life in the Woods: A Rebellion That’s Equally Controlling
The loners reject romantic relationships entirely. They live in the forest and punish any sign of affection between members. Here, David meets a short-sighted woman (Rachel Weisz), and they slowly fall in love, communicating through gestures and a made-up sign language.
Their secret relationship grows, but the Loner Leader (Léa Seydoux) discovers it and blinds the woman to sever their bond. David remains with her, but now they must navigate their relationship under this new, cruel twist of fate.
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Movie Ending (Spoilers Ahead)
In the final act, David and the woman flee to the city. At a diner, David tells her he will blind himself to remain compatible with her. He takes a steak knife, goes to the restroom, and stands in front of a mirror. She waits at the table, calmly sipping her drink.
The film ends ambiguously. We never see whether David blinds himself or not. The final shot lingers on the woman waiting, her expression unreadable, the screen fading to black.
Interpretation:
The ending forces viewers to confront the movie’s central question—is love real only if it fits within a set of arbitrary rules? If David blinds himself, it could be seen as a tragic commitment to an artificial standard. If he doesn’t, it might signify liberation from those societal expectations—but also possibly abandonment. The ambiguity leaves the audience unsettled, mirroring the film’s deeper themes about love, identity, and choice under pressure.
Are There Post-Credits Scenes?
No, The Lobster does not include any post-credits scenes. Once the screen goes black, the story is over. The lingering uncertainty is intentional and forms part of the film’s philosophical weight.
Type of Movie
The Lobster is a dystopian black comedy with strong elements of absurdism, romance, and psychological drama. It blends deadpan humor with a disturbing social allegory, offering a unique viewing experience that defies conventional genre boundaries.
Cast
- Colin Farrell as David
- Rachel Weisz as The Short-Sighted Woman
- Léa Seydoux as Loner Leader
- Ben Whishaw as Limping Man
- John C. Reilly as Lisping Man
- Olivia Colman as Hotel Manager
- Ashley Jensen as Biscuit Woman
- Ariane Labed as Hotel Maid
Film Music and Composer
The Lobster does not have a traditional film score. Instead, it features a curated selection of classical music and chamber pieces. Notable pieces include works by Beethoven, Shostakovich, and Stravinsky. The music creates a chilling, off-kilter atmosphere that complements the film’s surreal tone.
Filming Locations
The film was shot mostly in County Kerry, Ireland, particularly in Parknasilla Resort and Spa, which served as the ominous hotel. The surrounding forest scenes were filmed in Killarney National Park. These serene yet isolated settings enhance the film’s eerie contrast between natural beauty and dystopian control.
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Awards and Nominations
- Cannes Film Festival 2015: Jury Prize (won)
- Academy Awards: Nominated for Best Original Screenplay
- BAFTA Awards: Nominated for Best British Film and Best Original Screenplay
- European Film Awards: Best Screenwriter (won)
- British Independent Film Awards: Multiple nominations and wins, including Best Screenplay
Behind the Scenes Insights
- Colin Farrell gained 40 pounds for the role to embody David’s defeated and emotionally numbed character.
- Yorgos Lanthimos encouraged actors to deliver lines in a deliberately flat, robotic tone, enhancing the surrealism.
- Rachel Weisz joined the project partly due to the script’s originality and her admiration for Lanthimos’ earlier work.
- Much of the animal transformation process was left off-screen deliberately—Lanthimos wanted to focus on emotional consequences rather than fantasy elements.
Inspirations and References
- The concept was original, but heavily influenced by Kafkaesque storytelling, and the absurdist tradition of writers like Samuel Beckett and Eugène Ionesco.
- The film satirizes societal obsession with monogamy and conformity, poking fun at dating culture and the artificial standards of romantic “compatibility.”
- There are also echoes of George Orwell’s 1984, especially in how love is regulated and punished.
Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes
There are no known alternate endings. Lanthimos specifically crafted the ambiguous finale as part of his storytelling philosophy. Some deleted scenes, primarily extended hotel sequences and Loner interactions, were trimmed for pacing and tone.
Book Adaptations and Differences
The Lobster is not based on a book. However, it feels literary in style and structure, often compared to dystopian novels due to its layered themes and allegorical richness.
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Memorable Scenes and Quotes
Key Scenes
- David choosing to become a lobster.
- The nosebleed faking to secure a match.
- The sociopath woman killing David’s dog.
- The “dance party” at the hotel where guests must dance alone or with others based on relationship status.
- David and the woman silently communicating in the woods.
- The final scene in the diner.
Iconic Quotes
- “If you encounter any problems you cannot resolve yourselves, you will be assigned children. That usually helps.”
- “We only make love in the dark.”
- “He was transformed into a wolf and for some time he lived with a pack. But he never got along well with the others.”
- “I think we’ll manage very well together.”
Easter Eggs and Hidden Details
- Each character is named for their physical trait or condition (Limping Man, Lisping Man, Short-Sighted Woman), a nod to how shallow compatibility is in this world.
- All the animals seen roaming the forest are implied to be former humans.
- The storybook-like narration by Rachel Weisz’s character frames the movie as a modern fairy tale—albeit a very bleak one.
- The movie features no real “hero” music or emotional scoring, making the romantic moments feel cold and mechanical.
Trivia
- Lanthimos wrote the screenplay with longtime collaborator Efthymis Filippou.
- The lobster was chosen because it symbolizes longevity and sexual virility, and because, according to David, it’s “blue-blooded like aristocrats.”
- The film was Lanthimos’ first English-language feature.
- Rachel Weisz and Colin Farrell reunited years later in Poor Things (2023), also directed by Lanthimos.
Why Watch?
Watch The Lobster if you’re tired of formulaic love stories. This film turns romance on its head and asks uncomfortably brilliant questions: Is it better to be in a bad relationship than alone? Can love survive without shared traits—or is that a myth? It’s not a feel-good film, but it’s unforgettable. If you enjoy films that stay in your mind long after the credits roll, this is for you.
Director’s Other Movies
- Dogtooth (2009)
- Alps (2011)
- The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017)
- The Favourite (2018)
- Poor Things (2023)
- Kinds of Kindness (2024)