Genre: Fantasy/Thriller
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Writer: Jacob Jones
Cast: Billy Magnussen, Daniel Kaluuya, Ian McKellan, Colin Firth, Donald Sutherland, James Caan, Paul Giamatti, Andre Holland, Suki Waterhouse, Nicholas Braun, Seann William Scott, Keegan Michael-Key
Plot: The sun rises among a desert-like region as several elves begin to wake up and greet the day, exiting from their uniquely shaped houses. As this goes on, a narrator introduces us to Kazaria, a land of mystery and wonder. A world that is like and unlike others in many ways. From the evergreen-clad Creosolm, to the wild west of Jamblon and the upper-class, high-maintenance Ugluvus. The mountains of Gejatop to the oceans of Limotov, the fire-capital Plissa and most importantly, the bustling capital region of Nilsyck, Kazaria is a world that was forged by war, crafted by leaders and evolved from the hands of elf-kind.
How does he know this? For he lives there and has for his entire life. And so this is where our story begins.
An elf sits with a group of others inside the election war-room, watching as the votes are counted. Sitting on the couch is Kevin (Billy Magnussen), the Kazarian Democratic Party nominee for president. He stares at the android screen nervously before feeling his hand being squeezed tightly. He glances at his wife, Robyn (Suki Waterhouse) who tells him no matter what happens, she’s proud of what he's accomplished. Kevin smiles at her before looking at the television. It has come down to two regions. His home, Creosolm and Nilsyck.
At another mansion, several older elves watch on, all with differing emotions. The oldest of the lot, Raymond (Donald Sutherland) seems particularly confident as Ken (Paul Giamatti) paces the room, panicking to himself. He spots the Liberty Party nominee Martin (Colin Firth) sitting alone, seemingly reserved. He comes up to him, asking if he feels nervous only for Martin to say nothing.
Back at Kevin's mansion, he tries his best to block out the various voices speaking and closes his eyes, thinking about how it all got started…
Several Months Ago:
Inside a small house on top of a tree in Creosolm, Kevin is treated to a birthday dinner. He sits by his wife Robyn and his good friend Trent (Daniel Kaluuya) as they enjoy their meal. His father, Philip (Ian McKellen) lightly taps his champagne glass and makes an announcement. As of today, his 30th birthday, Kevin is old enough to enter the political world and serve Kazaria. He will begin a two-week training process tomorrow morning. Despite having waited his whole life to continue his father's legacy, that night, Kevin admits to his wife that he isn't sure he's ready to carry it on. Robyn assures him that his father knows what he's doing. Back in his time as president, he was one of the fiercest liberals in his party, ruling with compassion and honesty. She sees a lot of him in Kevin, urging him to give it his best.
The next day, Kevin arrives at his father's mansion and is ushered in to start his training. The first thing he will learn is to understand his political values. He is given a sheet pack with fifty questions and told to answer with his mind and heart. Kevin looks at the first question 'Where do you see yourself on the spectrum' and after some thought writes that he sees himself as an everyman who just wants to help make Kazaria a better place for everyone. He smiles upon looking at the next few questions and begins to write. Once he's finished, his father looks at what he's done and upon watching him leave realizes that he will make a fine addition to the KDP.
The next two weeks see Kevin learn how to handle debates, learn how to tinker with androids, handle foreign policy, and deliver speeches via the power of holograms. By the end of this period, Kevin is ready to begin his political career. For his final lesson, Phillip invites him to the highest mountain of Kazaria, the World-Seeker, located in Gejatop. Upon reaching the top, Kevin sits by his father and stares at all his surroundings. Phillip tells him that Kazaria is a land of untold opportunity. His decisions will decide his legacy. If you work hard enough and long enough, you can reach the mountaintop. Kevin thanks him for this advice and the two watch in awe as the sun sets.
The next afternoon, Trent and Kevin sit by the Creosolm river, ready to embark on their fishing trip. As they row across the Kazarian Sea, Kevin reveals that famous Liberty Party senator Martin Crewl has announced his campaign for president. He's not the only one, for the KDP, rising stars Joseph Quinn (Nicholas Braun) and Greg Tumble (Seann William Scott) are running. All of which are blown off by Trent. He brings up Alvin Dunn (Keegan-Michael Key), a longshot candidate who Trent admits could help Kazaria.
Noticing the tension, Kevin asks Trent if everything is alright and unintentionally sparks a rant. Trent raves about how the 'Old Elite' have destroyed what made Kazaria such a beautiful country, distorting reality and fiction to justify their narrative and corrupting the two main political parties into husks of their former selves. He stares at a shocked Kevin and apologizes, needing to get it off his chest. Suddenly, Trent asks him if he was considering running this year. Kevin says he is, but only as a senator. Trent laughs it off, saying he should run for president citing his name value. He even offers to help run his campaign. Kevin tells him he'll think about it.
That night, Kevin is noticeably quiet and tells Robyn about his new career path, asking her to hologram his father. He'll be making an announcement on Sunday regarding his future. That Sunday amongst a crowd of two hundred people, Kevin announces that he will be running for president of Kazaria, hoping to bring the country back after a disastrous term from Jerold Ladeem. He looks at his script and to everyone's surprise rips it up. He speaks off the cuff, talking about how the KDP only acts for 'subjective democracy' and how the Liberty Party fights for the liberty of the top 1%. If nominated, he will fight not only to change the KDP and Kazaria for the better, he will be the lion like his father was all those years ago.
The next few weeks, Kevin dominates early polls citing a vision that hasn't been seen since the days of his father and legendary president Lloyd Ferguson. Some question if he has the experience to make it far. One such critic is senior senator and Liberty Party candidate Raymond Cornell who arranges a meeting between him, Martin and Phillip via the power of a crystal orb. The three discuss the benefits and concerns regarding his candidacy. Raymond's big issue with Kevin is how suddenly he changed his viewpoints from two weeks ago which Martin seems to agree with. Phillip tries to defend his son but in the end, they realize something must be done. Phillip's only request to Raymond is that he 'go easy' on him.
Across the forests of Creosolm, Kevin and Trent watch several androids warning street-goers about Kevin’s campaign. Trent shrugs it off, revealing that he built an android of his own. He then tells Kevin about the joint fundraiser happening tomorrow and makes plans to see who to ally with in case they need someone to help them out. On the day of the joint fundraiser, Trent brings a peculiar looking robot called a ‘question bot’ and sends it inside the facility to meet up with Martin and Ken. Upon gathering information, it learns about Martin's legacy as Plissa's senator, his pragmatism and dedication helping to turn the rural region into a somewhat more modern realm, especially since he helped to bring fire (a crucial weapon in the art of war).
Ken is revealed as another long-shot candidate, having had limited success as an Limotov senator. All of a sudden, the group hears two people shouting and find Greg and Alvin having to be separated by security drones. Ken tells the question bot that Alvin is the leader of the Fang Movement (as shown by his fangs and snake-like figure), a radical third party containing those who split off from the Liberty Party. Once satisfied, the bot looks for some of the KDP candidates, finding Joseph. The two have an interview where they learn about Joseph’s six years as the representative of Jamblon. His humble personality and charisma have made him a favorite with others. He also served as a boltologist (a scientist who specializes in the power of lightning bolts) before going into politics.
The interview is interrupted by Greg as he demands an interview given his status as a senator for Addibas and his ‘Permanent Prosperity’ bill (one that guarantees a monthly payment of gold for those in need of it) only for Joseph to point out he got impeached for threatening to shoot someone for making suggestive comments toward his wife. Trent walks off, having gathered all the information he needs. Meanwhile, a furious Greg sulks at a corner when Raymond enters, and the two head to a private area to discuss ‘business.’
Before the bot can exit the facility, it sees Phillip talking with someone. Confused, it closes in and finds Phillip chatting with Martin Stewart. It takes a snapshot, flying to Trent and showcasing the picture. Horrified, he gets out a strange looking creature called a ‘propaganda bug’ and teleports it to where Kevin is. Upon seeing Kevin, it spreads a rumor that his father has sold out to the Old Elite, seemingly preparing for one of the safer candidates to face him and lose. Kevin is confused but runs with it. He leaves the fundraiser, ignoring his father’s greeting.
Several days before the first debate, a new challenge arises when a rogue lava monster from the country Inferna attacks rival nation Arjanuz, killing several of its aardvark-like people. Joseph and Kevin agree they should aid the nation during these trying times. Greg stays vague, ranting on how the ‘Old Elite’ have caused so much pain and destruction everywhere they’ve gone. Inside his house, Greg gets a phone call from Raymond, who asks him a favor. Of all the KDP candidates Martin fears, Kevin and Joseph are at the top of his list. He asks if Greg can slander their names, offering a cabinet seat should Martin win.
The big debate arrives, and while Kevin is initially nervous, he performs far better than expected. Instead, it’s the fan-favorite Joseph who has several answers that don’t impress. Finally, Greg has enough of his pandering and unleashes a verbal assault, claiming Joseph was the mastermind behind the ‘disastrous’ trade agreement between Jamblon and Ugluvus. Seeing a helpless Joseph flounder about, Kevin comes to his defense, saying Joseph was looking out for his citizens. Greg then brings up his wife and reveals that she used to pose nude for the interactive magazine Stakes. To his shock, Kevin remains calm and rants on how mud-slinging has destroyed the integrity of this once-proud party, calling Greg a disgrace who shouldn’t be anywhere near the political landscape. He receives a standing ovation from the crowd and watches as Greg storms off. After the debate, Joseph thanks Kevin for sticking up to him and offers to help out if needed. Once Joseph leaves, in walks Trent, congratulating him on an ‘impressive’ first showing but warns him not to give respect to ‘the centrists’. Kevin’s not worried about that. He’s more concerned about his wife.
A question bot interviews with Robyn, where she reveals her harsh past. She talks about how her parents abused her and how she was bullied by most of the elves in school—eventually taking illegal drugs when she was sixteen and becoming a stripper by eighteen. It wouldn’t be until she met Kevin that she went straight, and she owes her life to him. This adds to Kevin’s popularity as more and more Kazarians see him as the second coming of his father. Greg is condemned for his slander and crashes in the polls, ending his campaign in disgrace. At an emergency orb call, Raymond expresses his outrage over the plan blowing up in their faces. He demands Phillip tell his son to step aside, only for him to say that it would do nothing. Kevin seems invincible at this point. Trent, however, seems of more concern, as he appears to be enforcing several radical ideas and behaviors. The bad news gets worse as it is reported that Alan was protesting a campaign rally for Martin and actually got a few people on his side. To their relief, security drones took him away but new concerns arise over how strong a candidate Martin is.
Having heard of Alan’s arrest, Kevin holds a brief conference saying that while he doesn’t agree with his actions, he defends his right to speak out and requests that he be pardoned for his actions. After the conference, he sees Trent bickering with a question bot only for his mood to change upon seeing Kevin. Trent reveals that he’s going to take him to see a special friend of his. The two travel with the help of a large orange-feathered bird (and Trent’s pet) named Posius to the rural provenance of Plissa. The two hike several miles before coming across an old, decrypted house. Inside, a disheveled and worn-down computer (James Caan) greets his guests, ushering them inside. He questions Kevin on the legend of former king of Kazaria, Sam Yul. Kevin (by command of Trent) lies, having heard great things. As it turns out, he was a ruthless extremist who stopped at nothing to defeat his enemies. During his lecture, he speaks about Sam lovingly, disturbingly so. Almost like he’s a god before declaring Kevin the new Sam Yul. He offers to help his campaign and reveals a contract. Despite his reluctance, Kevin accepts the deal and watches as he gets to work on his first ad.
The next morning, Kevin is awakened by Robyn who warns him of a mob outside his house. Disturbed, Kevin rushes out to the living room and finds that several new androids and propaganda bugs have been released, saying that he will make ‘Kazaria only for Kazarians,’ a slogan used by dictator Sam Yul. Furious, he flies back to Matt’s house, where he and Trent are celebrating a job well done. Before he can punch the screen, Trent brings up a remarkable statistic. Populists seem to be in love with the message and want more. He tells Kevin that they’ll be taking this new direction, starting today. Back in Creosolm, Phillip watches the events unfold in his house, devastated at what has become of his son. Raymond enters his house via hologram, expressing his condolences and saying that he still has time to endorse Martin. He remains silent, turning off his phone and contemplating what to do next.
The day before the KPD and Liberty Party nominees are revealed, Phillip borrows Raymond’s crystal orb. He makes a powerful broadcast to all of Kazaria, endorsing Martin and begging the KPD base not to vote for his son. Assuming he can even call him that anymore. He mentions that this is the first time he has endorsed anyone from the Liberty Party with ‘recent events’ forcing his hand. Kevin observes the broadcast, devastated. He calls Trent via hologram, telling him that he was right. The next day, he is introduced to his vice-president, chosen by Trent himself. The bland but inoffensive Garrett (Andre Holland). Kevin sees Joseph and tries to strike a conversation, but Joseph, seeing what he has done recently, shuns him and walks away. That night, the election results are revealed. To no one’s shock, Kevin and Martin win their nominations. Kevin tries to give out a speech, but there is no joy even as he calls it a ‘rousing victory’. He cuts his speech off early, cutting to his vice-president Garrett and running off the stage.
Kevin tries to escape the convention room when he sees Raymond and Phillip along with several security drones blocking the door. Raymond tells him that he remembers seeing Kevin as a little boy and being hailed as the splitting image of his father. He laments how far he has fallen, but that it’s no longer his battle. He turns it over to Phillip, who expresses his disappointment. Everything he taught him has been thrown away. As he continues to tear down Kevin, Trent and Matt see him and try to confront him, only to be stopped by the drones. As a last-ditch effort, Matt sends a propaganda bug to bite Kevin’s neck. As soon as it does, Kevin snaps, calling his father a sell-out to The Old Elite and that he’ll stop at nothing until every last one of them burns in hell. Kevin storms off, leaving a heart-broken Phillip to be comforted by Raymond.
As the general election campaign begins, Kevin fully embraces the strategies of Trent and Matt and becomes increasingly unhinged, suggesting controversial ideas that have everyone (including Robyn) unnerved. The people of Kazaria also notice a ghastly wound on the back of his neck, which he calls ‘a symbol of the future’. Trent also begins to force question bots to ask questions that will make Kevin look good and ejects anyone who dares challenge his viewpoint. While progressives, blue-collar workers and Christians seem to be at odds with one another regarding him, Martin doesn’t seem to inspire anyone or bring new people even with Ken raising a lot of money. When asked about this, Martin admits that he’s not supposed to be the ‘ideas’ candidate, he’s the candidate that has shown time and time again that he can get things done.
At home, Kevin and Robyn host Matt and Trent for dinner. For the most part, it’s the men exchanging ideas for campaign rally speaking points and shutting out Robyn’s thoughts. She watches as Kevin goes along with them, praising the virtues of Sam Yul. The final straw comes when Matt brings up the idea of those who take ‘illegal drugs and prostitutes themselves being deported, and Kevin says he’ll ‘consider it.’ Robyn stands up, throwing Matt out of the house and sending Trent packing. This sparks a heated argument between the couple as Robyn calls Trent and Matt horrible influences. Kevin claims that they’re decent, upstanding citizens who want to rebuild Kazaria for Kazarians. With tears in her eyes, Robyn tells him that she doesn’t even know who he is anymore and storms off, leaving Kevin frozen in stunned silence.
In the days leading up to the big debate, Kevin becomes the most controversial person in Kazaria with his change in attitude becoming profound. Kevin attempts to keep a low profile, fleeing to a remote area in Creosolm called ‘The Edge,’ an abstract land with faded colors and ominous yet soothing noises. He sits alone, thinking about what he’s done when to his surprise, he sees Martin. He sits by him and asks why he hates ‘The Old Elite.’ Kevin begins to go on a speel, which is stopped by Martin. He rephrases the question. Why do you hate ‘The Old Elite.’ Kevin tries to come up with reasons not copied by Matt or Trent but fails. Martin explains that they garnered the name not because they think they’re elitists or better than anyone, it’s because a lot of them put in the time, effort and skill to make Kazaria the best that it is. Sure there have been career opportunists and those only in for the money, but the majority are honest, good people, including his father. He gives one last warning. At some point, you will become a part of the Old Elite as well. As Martin leaves, Kevin finally realizes that he's made a great mistake.
The day before the big debate, he holograms Trent and Matt to his house, telling them that they're being fired. After trying and failing to get him to reconsider, Trent unleashes a barrage of insults, calling him a sell-out and reveals his true intentions. To burn Kazaria down. Now understanding their true colors, he forces them out of his house and slams the door. He walks inside the house, taking a glimpse in the mirror and notices that the big flesh wound on the back of his neck is gone. The big day arrives, and Kevin is asked to give his opening statement. After giving it some thought, Kevin confesses to making several wrong decisions and unacceptable remarks, having been manipulated by 'anarchists' and opportunists. He apologizes to everyone he's hurt, especially his wife and father, and vows to return to his roots. Sure enough, he and Martin have a great debate with support dead even. Kevin heads backstage after the discussion, congratulated by Garrett and Robyn. Even Ken stops by to give his kudos.
That evening, Kevin tries to get in some last-minute reading when he hears the door knocking. He opens it and finds Phillip. He tells him that he watched his apology and forgives him. With tears in his eyes, Kevin embraces his father and apologizes profusely. It's there, Phillip reveals he made the same mistake he did, trusting the wrong people. Raymond was the one that got him out of it. He tells Kevin that he is relieved to have his son back and wishes his luck during the election.
The film returns to where it started with Kevin and Martin watching the results from their television screens. Martin receives the results first and smiles, glancing at a disappointed but respectful Raymond giving him to signal. Martin picks up his phone, calling Kevin to reveal to congratulate him on winning Creosolm and Nilsyck and thus, the election. Kevin stares at the TV screen confirming the result before looks outside, watching his supporters and protesters riot outside, fighting with one another and causing anarchy. Not even security drones are safe from the chaos as a few have their limbs broken off. Robyn leads him onto the podium to make his victory speech. He stares at the crowd of people and smiles, beginning a statement that will define the genesis of a new era.
"My fellow Kazarians…"
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