The good things about this movie are the cinematography and premise. It kept eyes on the screen throughout the runtime. But ultimately this has nothing to say while acting like it does. Zero of the characters are developed and the director clearly doesn't care about them either. For something that covers itself in a message of inclusivity and looking beyond superficiality, it is all surface-level. It's a carny show that wants the laughter to come from looking at these ridiculous freaks. That's what most of the jokes are here, not humor from situations and societally accepted weirdness in response to deformity; just the deformities and their ridiculousness.
For something with John Waters' queerness, Yorgos Lanthimos' wide soulless environments, and Lynchian characters/makeup, you'd hope for something that capitalizes on where all these tones meet.
The music was a very poor choice. Classical, 'refined' songs over gross, mundane imagery. How original. A film with this focused a look-this hyper-saturated, wide angled and cartoony-grotesque world--needs a wacky and original soundtrack. A lot of personality and humor lost.
The Greasy Strangler is a film that I'd say goes for the same tone. It's much better and has an original soundtrack to match its weird, offputting imagery.
In the end it leaves me feeling empty, really nothing to dwell on or be disturbed or provoked by. A loud garish statement that ends up as vanilla an experience as it comes.