Rating: C-
Dir: Matt Spicer
Star: Aubrey Plaza, Elizabeth Olsen, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Billy Magnussen
I’m heavily conflicted about this. On the one hand, I hate just about everyone depicted in this movie. There’s hardly a redeemable character in it. Yet that is potentially the point. Nor can I hate the performances, in particular Plaza’s, which is multi-faceted and nuanced. At the same time, Ingrid Thorburn, the character she plays, is the epitome of crazy. She can occasionally fake normal for a while. However, eventually, the facade will inevitably crack and the insanity lurking beneath will seep through. She is enabled by the Internet, her parasocial behaviour effectively passing in terms of online activity. Or at least allowing her to appear that way. Stay well away, though.
She goes to California after getting out of the asylum, following an unfortunate incident at an influencer’s wedding. Ingrid has now latched on to a new target. This is Taylor Sloane (Olsen), an LA photographer living her best life with artist boyfriend Ezra (Russell) on the ‘Gram. From liking of posts, to comments, to hanging out in the places Taylor goes, to kidnapping her dog. Ingrid has now got her claws into the victim. But maintaining the illusion she presents to Taylor, requires the construction of a cathedral of lies. When Taylor’s attention begins to wander – whether it’s spending time with brother Nicky or fellow influencer Harley – Ingrid’s self-esteem is collateral damage. When the cathedral begins to crumble, it takes her social position and already fragile sanity with it.
Where this really falls apart is at the end. [Spoilers follow, of necessity] Having lost everything, and been told in no uncertain terms where to go by Taylor, Ingrid cranks up the candles and overdoses, posting the video on Instagram. Her landlord and “imaginary boyfriend”, Batman-obsessed writer Dan (Jackson), finds her in time to call 911. When she regains consciousness, her suicide video has gone viral, getting Ingrid the attention and validation she always craved. Really? That is the message you’re going with? If you’re mentally unstable, just try and kill yourself. All your problems will be solved! To be fair, I don’t think this was quite as intended. It is how it came across to me though – and I’m not a dognapping loony.
It’s a shame because the film does have a lot of good points to make about the corrosive nature of Internet culture. The fakeness of so much social media is so detrimental, I genuinely believe we would collectively be better off if it was all banned tomorrow. Then again, society has made it a thoughtcrime to question anybody’s self-constructed cathedral. To me, this therefore comes over as a horror film, albeit one told from the disturbed perspective of the villain. In that way it plays like an Instagram version of Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer. Again, I’m not sure if this was deliberate. Up until the ending, I’d have said, possibly. But the severe pussying out leaves me sceptical of the makers’ motives.