CANNES, France (AP) — Ari Aster’s COVID-era Western “Eddington,” about a 2020 America quickly losing its mind to conspiracy theories, TikTok and political extremism, premiered to a mixed reception at the Cannes Film Festival.

Set in the pandemic’s early days, the noted horror director’s Covid comedy satirizes the national mood during lockdown. Reactions have been polarizing.

Eddington, Ari Aster’s Covid cowboy movie, is a challenging watch which is destined to end up as one of the most divisive films of the year. No one is making movies quite like Aster today – or taking some of the risks that he does,

Making his Cannes Film Festival Competition debut, Ari Aster unveiled 'Eddington' in Cannes this evening, drawing a nearly seven-minute ovation.

"Eddington," Ari Aster's modern Western starring Joaquin Phoenix, Emma Stone, Austin Butler and Pedro Pascal, earned a standing ovation at Cannes.