10 years ago, Daniel Radcliffe left Harry Potter behind to play a farting corpse and it was the best move of his career
Of those who struggled along the path from precocious child star to respected grown-up actor, few have done it more successfully than Daniel Radcliffe.
After the dizzying global fame that the “Harry Potter” films brought him, the now thirtysomething Brit skillfully broke free of any “boy wizard” typecasting by choosing diverse, unconventional roles across both stage and screen, from playing “Weird Al” Yankovic (a transformative role that scored him an Emmy nod) to singing in Sondheim musicals (he won a Tony for “Merrily We Roll Along” in 2024).
And one of the actor’s most unconventional post-Potter roles is the 2016 surrealist comedy “Swiss Army Man,” which sees Radcliffe memorably portray a — checks notes — a corpse who gets dragged around a deserted island “Weekend at Bernie’s”-style by Paul Dano. It’s a truly weird but wonderful watch and one you can enjoy for yourself by streaming the funny flick now on HBO Max.
What is “Swiss Army Man” about?
Directed by Daniel Scheinert and Daniel Kwan in their feature directorial debuts, “Swiss Army Man” stars Paul Dano as Hank Thompson, a suicidal man stranded on a marooned island when he comes upon a washed-up corpse, later known as Manny (Daniel Radcliffe), who has a surprising, Swiss army knife-esque set of superhuman abilities.
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Those magical properties include talking from beyond the grave, producing drinkable freshwater, and, uh, farting so powerfully he can propel the two men across the ocean. (We warned you this was a weird one!)
The men set out to find civilization and over the course of their epic journey, Hank helps Manny rediscover what it means to be human, from basic pleasures like watching movies and drinking alcohol to more profound pursuits like falling in love.
Why you should watch ‘Swiss Army Man’
One of film’s most bizarre buddy comedies, “Swiss Army Man” works as well as it does because for all of its weirdness, whimsy and, er, flatulence, there’s a big, old heart beating steadily beneath those oddities, with the Daniels balancing out the script’s absurdism with very emotional and relatable themes of loneliness, shame, self-acceptance and human connection.
That tonal juxtaposition can certainly be jarring for some—the film won the Directing Award: U.S. Dramatic at the Sundance Film Festival for Kwan and Scheinert, though many audience members at that fest walked out of the premiere screening, reportedly alienated by the movie’s gonzo humor—but it all works thanks to the game, thoughtful participation of Radcliffe and Dano.
“Disarmingly odd and thoroughly well-acted, ‘Swiss Army Man’ offers adventurous viewers an experience as rewarding as it is impossible to categorize,” reads the critical consensus over on Rotten Tomatoes, where the cultish flick has a 73% approval rating. For Variety, Peter Debruge concurred, writing: “This movie wears its weirdness as a badge of honor—as well it should.”
Watch “Swiss Army Man” on HBO Max now
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