The new film Mountainhead, written and directed by Succession creator Jesse Armstrong, skewers the tech elite with dark humor. The movie follows four billionaire friends – Hugo, Venis, Jeff, and Randy – who are invited to a poker weekend at the titular mountain mansion. As they take in the chaos caused by their friend’s AI app, their true nature is revealed.
Armstrong pitches-perfectly writes weak jokes for great comic actors, making even Steve Carell’s character hilarious despite his desperation to be liked. However, the film’s bleakness takes your breath away as it highlights the dangers of losing our hold on reality and the threat posed by these out-of-touch billionaires.
A sharp observation in Mountainhead is that all four men pose the same threat – they never learn from experiencing consequences due to their wealth and power. They refuse to listen to others, ignore history, and lack genuine insight. Despite this, Armstrong’s masterful portrayal of their queasy believability makes for a profoundly pleasurable viewing experience.
The film serves as a reminder that we should see these powerful individuals for who they are, without pretenses. As Armstrong demonstrates, the least we can do is to refuse to pretend they’re anything else. With its dark humor and biting satire, Mountainhead is a must-see for anyone interested in social commentary and character-driven storytelling.
Source: https://www.npr.org/2025/05/31/nx-s1-5413129/mountainhead-review-hbo-movie-steve-carell