Jaws will, without a doubt, drop several times throughout The Coffee Table (a.k.a. La mesita del comedor). That is, when mouths aren’t being covered with both hands. Director/writer Caye Casas and co-writer Cristina Borobia have unleashed a film that escapes simple classification. Is it a comedy? Horror? Drama? A thriller? The simplest answer: it’s all of them. The “comedy” label is pushed the most with this unique Spanish film, however, there will be no laughing after the story’s inciting incident takes place. It’s impossible to chuckle in the face of such bleakness.
The “fun” of The Coffee Table is its shock value. Which makes the film challenging to discuss because a specific plot point is crucial to the viewer’s experience. So forgive any and all vagueness to come. In lieu of spoiling said element, here is what to expect: apart from utter revulsion, The Coffee Table breeds anxiety. The sense of relief is delayed for what feels like forever. The characters’ emotions are as raw as they are contagious. And by the end, the audience will have to decompress after witnessing so much chaos. Now, that might sound like a lot to take on just for a film, but Casas and Borobia’s collaboration is not something anyone should enter lightly.
The story in The Coffee Table is straightforward enough: new parents Jesús (David Pareja) and María (Estefanía de los Santos) bicker nonstop as they shop for the titular furnishing. They can’t agree on an unsightly table, and despite his wife’s vocal protest, Jesús purchases the eyesore out of principle rather than actual desire. After all, he has relinquished control of everything else to María, and for once, Jesús wants something of his own choosing. It’s clear there is more going on beneath the surface of this strained relationship than just a difference in décor taste, but that dysfunction is easy to figure out. It is also unimportant and overshadowed down the line.
Although it might seem like The Coffee Table does itself a disservice by not holding out a little longer with its story’s dreadful catalyst, the early reveal provides more time for building tension and making the characters sweat. Really, there is only one character who is a nervous wreck for most of the film, but he or she is eventually accompanied by those others affected by the triggering event. Again, apologies for the haziness, but keeping this detail under wraps is for the best.
The wait for everyone to be cognizant in the story isn’t short, yet the journey getting there makes the horrifying climax worthwhile. It’s a true “how do we go from here?” kind of moment that doesn’t disappoint. On the downside, it’s unclear how well The Coffee Table will hold up on repeat viewings — if there even are any, to begin with. The unpleasantness of everything here doesn’t quite make audiences want to come back for seconds anytime soon. This is definitely a film that needs more time to settle once it’s been devoured.
Hands down, The Coffee Table is this year’s most outrageous film. And hats off to the creative sickos who pushed the envelope without doing so the “wrong” way. They have given everyone something to talk about once the shock finally wears off.
The Coffee Table is now on VOD as well as DVD from Cinephobia Releasing.
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