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Poster of The Exterminating Angel

The Exterminating Angel (1962)

“The degeneration of high society!”

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Free

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Plot

In the opulent heart of Mexico City, Edmundo and Lucia Nobile, a sophisticated couple enshrined in wealth, host an extravagant post-opera soiree at their luxurious estate. Their grand mansion, however, soon becomes a gilded cage as, for reasons as enigmatic as they are unsettling, their twenty guests find themselves unable to depart. As the veneer of high society begins to crumble, the guests descend into a surreal, self-imposed quarantine, their once refined manners giving way to primal survival instincts. The evening's decadent delights morph into a waking nightmare; a grand piano recital degenerates into a cacophony of absurdism, while the absence of servants leaves the once indulged guests grappling with a dwindling supply of provisions. Their sophisticated chatter devolves into boorish bickering and romantic indiscretions turn into flagrant betrayals. The creeping dawn brings no reprieve as the usual delivery of daily provisions mysteriously fails to arrive, escalating the tension and unease within the mansion's gilded walls. As the days meld into a surreal blur, their behavior deteriorates further, their desperate thirst driving them to smash walls for water, their hunger compelling them to slaughter the innocent sheep that inexplicably roam within the confines of their opulent prison. Outside, authorities are baffled, unable to penetrate the same unseen barrier that keeps the guests trapped within. Directed by Luis Buñuel, "The Exterminating Angel" is a darkly comedic, surrealistic parable that lampoons societal conventions, artistic pretentiousness, and religious hypocrisy. As the guests' mental and physical health deteriorates, the film underscores the fragile nature of civility when faced with the raw, unyielding face of survival. The estate's lavish interiors become a stage for the unravelling of human nature, revealing a chaotic, animalistic underbelly beneath the surface of high society.

Where to watch The Exterminating Angel?

The Exterminating Angel is a comedy movie featuring Silvia Pinal.

The Exterminating Angel is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Plex and Plex Player and it's also available on Criterion Channel.

It is also possible to buy The Exterminating Angel on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies and YouTube.