The long-awaited and now deeply controversial drama Magazine Dreams is set for a quiet UK cinema release on 5 December, its trajectory irrevocably altered by the real-life legal troubles of its star, Jonathan Majors.
A Promising Project Derailed by Real-World Scandal
Initially tipped for major awards recognition, Magazine Dreams is a colossal, psychologically intense film in the vein of Paul Schrader. It features a transformative performance from Jonathan Majors as Killian Maddox, an aspiring bodybuilder who cares for his disabled grandfather. Majors underwent a remarkable physical transformation for the role, achieving a beast-like physique to portray the isolated and troubled protagonist.
Killian's life is one of profound loneliness, depression, and body dysmorphia. He obsessively follows bodybuilding stars, particularly idolising a figure named Brad Vanderhorn, whose magazine covers adorn his bedroom walls. His struggles include a disastrous date with a co-worker, Jessie (Haley Bennett), and a dangerous addiction to steroids that triggers violent episodes of 'roid rage.
The Unavoidable Shadow of Jonathan Majors' Conviction
The film's fate was sealed in 2023 when Majors was convicted on two counts of assault and harassment against his then-girlfriend. This real-world conviction cast an inescapable pall over the film's fictional narrative of toxic masculinity and violence, transforming it into what many consider a modern film maudit – a cursed production.
The parallels between Majors' on-screen character and his off-screen life became uncomfortably stark, clouding the film's intended message. A key plot twist involving a #MeToo-style revelation about abuse was particularly impacted, its power diluted by the audience's knowledge of the actor's own court case.
Powerful Performances Amidst a Flawed Structure
Despite its burdens, Magazine Dreams contains undeniably powerful moments. Critics note that Majors delivers a compelling and convincing performance, especially in a bizarre scene where his battered character insists on competing in a bodybuilding contest. His physical portrayal is described as an amazing anatomy of pain.
The film itself is noted to be flawed, particularly by a cumbersome flashback structure framing the story as a conversation with a counsellor. However, its exploration of fragile masculinity, obsession, and isolation remains potent, even as it exists in the long shadow of its star's downfall.
As Magazine Dreams arrives in UK cinemas, it stands as a complex artefact: a ambitious drama with a formidable central performance, yet forever defined by the distressing off-screen actions of its leading man.
