REVIEW: Abel Tesfaye’s Hurry Up Tomorrow Is an Exhilarating, Visionary Thriller

Abel Tesfaye, better known as The Weeknd, has a new film, Hurry Up Tomorrow, hitting theaters on May 16. Based on our early screening, it’s safe to say the artist’s final farewell under his stage name is a thrilling, visionary experience.

Warning: Spoilers Ahead

Earlier this year, The Weeknd, born Abel Tesfaye, released an album of the same name, but the film came first. Both were inspired by the pivotal moment in 2022, when the singer lost his voice mid-performance during the “After Hours ‘Til Dawn” tour at SoFi Stadium.

While there was minor damage to his vocal cords, Tesfaye revealed the bulk of his injury was due to psychological trauma. Using that moment as a narrative catalyst, The Weeknd turns inward, battling ego, toying with who he is and who he wants to become.

“This is an experimental film that follows the emotional journey of a tormented artist and explores the complex mental health struggles that so many of us experience,” the “Wicked Games” singer described.

Cast Performances

In the film, directed by Trey Edward Shults (Waves), The Weeknd portrays a fictionalized, sensationalized version of himself approaching his breaking point.

He then meets Anima (Jenna Ortega), who challenges and unravels the foundation of his self-understanding in a powerful and haunting portrayal. Ortega does a remarkable job embodying a character who teeters on the edge of madness, yet she brings a raw vulnerability that humanizes her, representing the artist’s deeper, emotional side, rarely revealed to the world.

Meanwhile, Lee (Barry Keoghan) depicts the singer’s best friend while also symbolizing the mask—the constructed persona of the superstar, even as his performance remains lighthearted and charismatic. Yet as his character’s life ends near, XO fans feel a quiet sadness. Not only is Lee gone, but the persona of The Weeknd in real life is also gone. This was goodbye.

Together, the two serve as powerful bookends to the artist, offering complementary embodiments that amplify the main character’s impact.

Speaking of which, Tesfaye’s acting has shown impressive growth since his stint on The Idol. In Hurry Up Tomorrow, he delivers a performance that is both emotionally raw and surprisingly nuanced. He takes on a deeply flawed character, especially in his relationships, but the portrayal feels grounded and authentic with moments of visible pain, fear, and even tears that reveal a genuine vulnerability. At the same time, he weaves in subtle, well-timed comedic bits that add dimension without undercutting the gravity of the role. It’s a performance that makes you feel for him, root for him, and see a version of the artist we haven’t fully witnessed before.

Thematic Elements

The film’s pacing will undoubtedly test your patience. The first half unfolds slowly, building anticipation for a faster and more intense second half, beginning with the singer’s downward spiral just before he takes the stage on a day he was already reluctant to perform.

Viewers aren’t merely passive spectators; they’re pulled into an exhilarating journey where music and cinematography shape the film and serve as characters in their own right. On one hand, the music, composed of original scores and tracks off the HUT album, is intricately intertwined into the narrative and instrumental in revealing its emotional core.

On the other hand, the impeccable cinematography pulls you into the film’s emotional chaos, making you feel as though you’re spiraling alongside the artist. One standout moment is the “São Paulo” club scene, which pounds with intensity, the bass hits your chest, the strobe lights blur your vision, and the camera work mirrors his frantic energy as he searches for Lee in a packed, disorienting crowd. It’s a visceral experience that blurs the line between viewer and character.

While undeniably immersive, this film demands your undivided attention for the entire 90-minute runtime. Blink, and you risk losing the thread. It’s not a straightforward narrative, nor does it hand you answers. You’ll have to sit with it, read between the lines, and find meaning in what’s not explicitly displayed. As the singer himself put it, the film is “for the ones who find comfort in the dark, who search for meaning in sound and silence.”

Shults’ keen eye for storytelling through poetic bits of silence, expressive camera choreography, and innovative editing beautifully elevates the cast’s performance for a project that is nothing short of pulse-pounding. It’s easy to see why the artist tapped him as a collaborator.

While refining the film’s overall vision, Tesfaye recalls watching Waves and instantly knowing Shults was the creative voice he wanted to align with.

“I saw Trey’s film Waves, and I instantly connected with his visual style and the way he captured such layered, complex emotions. It really stuck with me. Years later, as I started to hone in on what I wanted to say with Hurry Up Tomorrow, it became clear that Trey was the perfect director to bring that vision to life,” he discussed.

At its core, Hurry Up Tomorrow is a film about mental health and what unfolds when someone has long since passed their breaking point. Between the jarring sleep paralysis jump scares and the constant sense of heightened anticipation, the film is more than just a psychological thriller, pulling from other genres and subgenres, forcing viewers to watch with an open mind.

It strikes a balance between artistic depth and mainstream appeal, making it a film the general public can hopefully rally behind.

On a deeper level, for the fanbase, it’s a “love letter,” as the star calls it. It’s impossible not to think about the ride fans have been on, whether they hopped on the train during the Kiss Land era or after the Super Bowl halftime. Specifically, when Anima shuffles through his discography, untangling the true meaning behind the anthems, it doubles as a fun guessing game for the audience.

Hurry Up Tomorrow isn’t just a film or an album; it’s a bold, immersive experience that pushes the limits of storytelling and self-reflection. It draws you into a whirlwind of emotion where music, memory, and identity collide. As The Weeknd bids goodbye to the persona that defined his career, this project feels like both a final chapter and a fresh start for him and the fans who’ve been along for the ride. It’s a raw, honest farewell that leaves you thinking long after the credits roll.

Grab your tickets here.