Swiss Army Man is a comedy film that follows the story of Hank Thompson, a man stranded alone on a deserted island. Directed by Daniel Scheinert and Daniel Kwan, this was their debut in the world of feature films. The film stars Paul Dano, Daniel Radcliffe, and Mary Elizabeth Winstead in supporting roles. Swiss Army Man received a decent response on Rotten Tomatoes, earning an overall rating of 72% based on 209 reviews, and a score of 6.8/10. The duo of Scheinert and Kwan won the Directing Award: U.S. Dramatic category at the Sundance Film Festival for their direction in making the film. Let’s take a deeper look at the plot of this film through this synopsis and review.
Synopsis
Hank Thompson is stranded on a remote island all by himself. Frustrated and hopeless, he decides to take his own life by hanging himself. However, he changes his mind when he sees a corpse washed up on the shore. Hank tries to revive him but is left confused when the corpse continually emits fart noises. The corpse also has the ability to pass gas in such a way that propels Hank across the ocean like a jet ski. Hank quickly climbs on top of the corpse, and the two of them move towards safety.
However, instead of being rescued, they end up on a vast island, and as a result, Hank has to return to the corpse to find a way out. One night, due to heavy rainfall, Hank takes the corpse to a nearby cave. The following day, the corpse emits a massive gush of water from its mouth. Hank, thirsty and desperate, drinks from the plastic trashcan more conveniently located near the corpse’s mouth. He then discovers that the corpse has a magical power he can use. The corpse is given the name Manny, and he can communicate with Hank via slow-motion movements. Although initially frightened with a talking corpse, Hank grows quite close to Manny, and the two develop a connection. Manny even helps Hank get out of the woods.
During their journey, Hank educates Manny on the joys of life. With the aid of trash items and props, from food to cinema, Hank demonstrates various delights of life. By doing so, Manny recalls that he once fell in love with a woman named Sarah Johnson. She was a woman who took the bus by herself every day, and Manny was her secret admirer. His affection for Sarah drives him to want to find her and leave the island. However, Sarah is revealed to be the woman Hank loves.
Hank was in love with Sarah before he was stranded on the island. He used to watch her get on the bus every day but never had the courage to talk to her. Instead, he took her picture secretly and followed her on social media. Sarah is now married and has a cute daughter. When Manny finds out that he never really knew Sarah, he is upset and feels betrayed. Hank’s subconsciousness had always controlled Manny to make him feel the same love that Hank had for Sarah. Manny then declares that he wants to return to being a corpse again. The revelation leads to a rift between the two.
During their disagreement, Hank is unexpectedly attacked by a wild bear in the woods. Manny tries to save his friend and scares the bear with his flatulence. Hank passes out, but Manny manages to take him out of the forest. When Hank awakens, they find themselves in front of Sarah’s house, the woman he loves.
Conclusion
Swiss Army Man is an unusual comedic movie about friendship. The film’s plot is unique, original, and incorporates various genres, including comedy, fantasy, tragedy, and romance. The film’s magical element and surrealistic cinematography make it impressive, but it is not without faults. Some scenes are quite irritating to watch, but the film makes up for it with its absurdity. Overall, Swiss Army Man is a movie worth watching for anyone who enjoys a different and humorous tale.
