Get ready, cinephiles, because Ethan Coen, one half of the Coen Brothers, teams up with creative partner Tricia Cooke to deliver HONEY DON’T! (2025), the second installment of their planned “lesbian B-movie trilogy”! Following 2024’s Drive-Away Dolls, this neo-noir dark comedy takes us to the sunny yet shadowy world of Bakersfield, California. Leading the charge is the tough-as-nails private detective Honey O’Donahue, brought to life by Margaret Qualley.
Honey finds herself entangled in a series of bizarre deaths that lead her to uncover the secrets of a mysterious church led by the charismatic yet repulsive Pastor Drew Devlin (Chris Evans in a delightfully perverse performance!). As Honey digs deeper, she navigates a world filled with eccentric characters, illicit dealings, and unexpected romantic entanglements. The film hit theaters on August 22, so if you haven’t marked your calendar yet, you still have time to catch it!
Bakersfield’s Shadowy Secrets and B-Movie Aesthetics
Directed by Finn Bruce and Brook Driver, HONEY DON’T! adopts a mockumentary style, satirizing the absurd world of giant vegetable growing while escalating the stakes into a national conspiracy. Presented as if it were an amateur documentary, complete with “talking heads” and a faux-authentic vibe, the film’s humor is direct and memorable. This structural choice amplifies the characters’ quirky insights, witty one-liners, and a unique comedic tone that’s both campy and sardonic. The directors masterfully craft a film that’s “funny yet authentically immersive.”
The film’s greatest asset is undoubtedly its ensemble cast, led by Jo Hartley’s Caroline, whose “radiant” performance infuses the absurdity with genuine heart and soul. Richard Lumsden’s conspiracy theorist Paul, Celyn Jones’ dependable Willy, and the private detectives played by Aisling Bea and Ray Fearon make the film unforgettable and endlessly quotable.
The screenplay shines by cleverly blending British comedy with crime thriller elements, creating an increasingly complex and unpredictable narrative. The humor often stems from the contrast between the mundane world of vegetable growing and the escalating criminal underworld. Amid the comedy, the film surprisingly weaves in emotional depth, touching on real human themes like coping with a terminal illness diagnosis.
Mixed Reviews and Standout Elements
HONEY DON’T! has received mixed reactions from critics. While its bold concept, distinctive style, and strong lead performances earned praise, many found it less consistent and consistently funny than Drive-Away Dolls. The deliberate B-movie aesthetic and chaotic plot have garnered both admiration and criticism. The film premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, receiving a 6.5-minute standing ovation.
Critics have highlighted Margaret Qualley’s “cool, slick, and wildly charismatic” portrayal of Honey O’Donahue as a standout, with Chris Evans also earning praise for his comedic take on Pastor Drew Devlin. The film boldly tackles themes of queer identity, female trauma, and corrupt authority, setting it apart.
HONEY DON’T! offers a unique cinematic experience for those seeking a film that playfully subverts genre expectations with its surprising and distinctive charm. Ethan Coen and Tricia Cooke’s latest work takes audiences on a wild ride through modern genre cinema, reinforcing Coen’s singular voice—passionate about absurdity and sharp-eyed for unique characters—even without his brother by his side.
What do you think?
Show comments / Leave a comment