The Humans 2021

On Thanksgiving, the Blake family gathers as Erik and Deirdre visit their daughter Aimee alongside Erik’s elderly mother, Momo. Their destination is the apartment of their other daughter, Brigid, and her partner Richard, located in Chinatown. Upon arrival, Erik is immediately critical of the dilapidated living conditions, worrying about their proximity to a flood zone and Ground Zero. His past experiences haunt him; on 9/11, he had driven Aimee to a job interview and lingered nearby when tragedy struck, leaving him tormented by a vision of a victim who bore a striking resemblance to his daughter.

As the evening progresses, underlying tensions within the family become increasingly apparent. Brigid expresses her bitterness over their parents’ refusal to provide financial help, lamenting the unfulfilled aspirations of her career as a composer—a dream that remains unachieved. Meanwhile, Richard grapples with his own demons, dealing with depression while waiting for a trust fund that won’t mature for another five years. The family dynamics are complicated further by Aimee’s health issues; she not only battles a chronic illness but also faces the emotional toll of losing her job and a long-term relationship, compounded by the need for surgery.

Despair runs deep as Deirdre, struggling with arthritis, becomes a target of ridicule due to her religious delicacies, while Erik, burdened with the melancholy of Momo’s decline, scrutinizes Brigid’s work ethic and lifestyle choices. There is a fleeting moment of solace when Deirdre reads a heartfelt letter from Momo, crafted during her clearer days. The letter apologizes for her decline and assures her family of her unwavering love, advising them to remain calm amidst life’s turmoil.

As conversations meander through dreams and nightmares, Richard’s honesty shines through, yet Erik remains reticent. Finally, he reveals his recurring nightmares of a faceless woman, a symbol of his 9/11 trauma. Light-hearted teasing from the family exacerbates his unease. Urged by Deirdre, Erik divulges a long-hidden secret about an affair with a teacher at his Catholic school—a mistake that cost him his job and pension, leading to the sale of their cherished lake house for Momo’s care. Though Erik insists that he and Deirdre have resolved the issue through counseling, his daughters confront feelings of betrayal and disappointment.

As the Thanksgiving gathering concludes, family members head to a hotel, assisting Momo into a taxi. In a solemn moment, Erik stays behind to address an electrical issue but unexpectedly succumbs to a panic attack in the enveloping darkness, lost and pleading in fear. The situation shifts when Brigid reenters to retrieve him, and together they leave the apartment, carrying the weight of their family’s struggles into the uncertain night.