Swiss Army Man, a cinematic poem

Directors Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert have created one of the most unique and strikingly original visions of recent times with ‘Swiss Army Man’.

With a seemingly simple plot, that of a man who befriends a corpse, they have created an experience that somehow finds depth in the utter absurdity through a balance of humour, heart and viscerality.

Paul Dano and Daniel Radcliffe deliver fearless, committed performances that bring the strange relationship to life in all its tonal twists and turns.

But what endures are the brave, never-before-seen visual choices, at once hilarious and hauntingly artistic, that turn the body into a magical tool.

Bold, strange and uniquely transcendent cinema that demands the viewer to loosen their expectations and dive headlong into its anarchic joy. Its end result inspires reflection on the meaning of life.

While no doubt pushing boundaries, Swiss Army Man proves that courage and vision can transform any bizarre concept into a resonant and deeply human artistic expression.

Memorably madcap, it is a work in which I continue to find new layers, a truly subversive work of genius that expands what cinema can achieve.

Swiss Army Man was widely praised by critics at its Sundance premiere in 2016 for its bold originality and deft tonal balance.

It received nominations from several critics' groups, including Best First Feature from the National Society of Film Critics.

Radcliffe received high praise for his intrepid work, although the film did not win any major awards.

Commercially, the film had a cult following and grossed $5.8 million worldwide on a minuscule budget of $250,000.