After almost ten years, Stranger Things has finally come to an end. Churning out an impressive amount of viewing hours, conspiracy theories, and thematic merchandise, the show has earned its status as a disruptive pop culture phenomenon. But the greatest contribution of the Duffer Brothers’ creation is launching its talented cast into mainstream stardom. While names like Millie Bobby Brown and Sadie Sink have flooded new productions and social media, one of the older components of the show has been rising steadily – building a solid career that will keep him around for years to come.
Joe Keery, better known as the most endearing TV dad Steve Harrington, is the breakout Stranger Things star we need to keep on the lookout. During the show’s lifespan, Keery appeared in more than ten films, plus the series Fargo and No Activity, in which he participated in a recurring capacity. One of these films, Spree, became Keery’s first as a leading actor. That said, while it’s difficult to remember 2020 as anything else than a pivotal moment for the world, it also became a defining year for Keery. This satirical horror put Keery in the spotlight as Kurt, a sociopathic and attention-hungry app driver who resorts to desperate measures to gain followers and likes. The topic was risky, but Keery’s charm and magnetism keep the movie afloat, making it worth watching and analyzing.
Image via RLJE Films
What are our lives worth at a time when everything is measured in views and likes? This is one of the main themes and critiques that Spree explores in its tight runtime. Keery’s Kurt Kunkle starts his day as an app driver while livestreaming to the few followers who are willing to watch. But what initially seems to be an ordinary workday, takes a quick turn to become a hellish ride for those who cross paths with Kurt. By drugging his most annoying passengers, Kurt resorts to creative ways to kill them, expecting his follower base to increase.
It’s interesting to watch Spree as a fictional story. But it’s worrying considering some people would certainly be willing to go to these lengths in exchange for fame. When Kurt says homeless people are pathetic because they don’t have an online presence, everything clicks. Social media addiction has brought a total disregard for real human life. This generational trauma relies on establishing a new reality in which being seen online is worth more than living a stable life. The way Spree handles this topic is darkly humorous, but worrying when delving deeper into it.
Kurt’s Ways Are Sinister, But Joe Keery’s Charm Makes Them Work
At first, Kurt gets rid of white supremacists and misogynists with a very high probability of becoming abusers, thus making him seem a sort of vigilante, taking justice into his hands. But, in the whirlwind of social media, numbers trump fairness, and Kurt takes casualties from all sides. The key to his self-proclaimed success relies on the dehumanization of his victims. While it’s not explicit, the fact that Kurt doesn’t hesitate to kill his own relatives is a sign of a deeper and unexplored trauma.
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In the shade of a violent America, the handling of this delicate topic in Spree could’ve gone sideways – but it works thanks to Keery’s charisma. Nuancing Kurt’s ruthlessness with his naïveté make for a character that you may love or you may hate – but you’re surely waiting to see what he does next. You’re on the edge of your seat because Keery is disturbing, and yet appealing. Opposite Sasheer Zamata’s Jessie, Spree is able to balance the scales, clearly establishing Kurt isn’t the hero of this story. By having Jessie be the moral core, the film achieves a somewhat happy finale. But it’s one that stays with you as you witness the vicious social media cycle keep being perpetuated – even after everything ends.
As it stands, Spree sees Keery fully displaying his abilities as a leading actor with Kurt Kunkle. Additionally, his role as Steve Harrington in Stranger Things is one of the best character evolutions in a contemporary TV show. Thus, works like these have earned Keery a promising future in Hollywood. The cherry on top of his media ventures is also launching his musical career as Djo. So, whatever the next years hold for him, we’ll surely be watching – or listening!
