Beau Is Afraid is an exercise in laughing to keep from screaming

Beau Is Afraid, A24’s newest film from director Ari Aster, is both a dark comedy and a surreal, oedipal drama that feels like it might not exist were it not for how common it’s become for TV shows and films to tell stories about people living with the kind of anxiety that makes it hard to function. Through its brilliant direction and imaginative set design, Beau Is Afraid’s able to tell an arresting story that makes you feel quite…