There’s no scarcity of huge concepts on provide in Amy Wang’s function directorial debut, “Slanted,” however just like the tragic heroine at its middle, this formidable outing might need fared higher had Wang extra keenly thought of the general package deal that holds it collectively. Typically styled as a satire — with beneficiant shades of each “Imply Women” and “Bottoms” as well — Wang’s movie is way extra unhappy and unusual than all of that. Principally, it’s a form of blunt-force spin on “The Substance” (sure, extra blunt than Coralie Fargeat’s function, in some way) that by no means fairly permits itself to go previous these references into one thing extra trustworthy and, frankly, extra terrifying.
Regardless of all these references — and even just a few scenes that do extra than simply nod to such movies — Wang’s movie does tout an unique and compelling concept. The filmmaker’s tackle physique horror transplants the style into the hellscape of highschool, maybe the one setting wherein being exterior of your individual physique would really feel not welcome, however proper. Joan Huang (Shirley Chen) is aware of all about desirous to be another person, particularly on the surface (a pursuit so consuming that her inside life proves to be discomfitingly barren).
Ten years into residing in America, and the Huangs nonetheless haven’t fairly cracked the code for best residing. We first meet the small household (together with Vivian Wu as Joan’s heartbreaking mom and Fang Du as her charming father) early of their American experiment, having simply arrived within the south (the movie was shot in Georgia) from China, desperate to dive into their new lives. It’s clear from the beginning what being all-American actually seems to be like: Being blonde and skinny, sporting “Yee-Haw Boots” and consuming “Freedom Espresso,” and it’s no marvel younger Joan (Kristen Cui) will get hip so rapidly to all of this, as she’s merely inundated with such imagery. Being bullied in school doesn’t assist both, as youngsters are fast to drag at their eyes to imitate Joan’s “slanted” lids or to smell on the lovingly do-it-yourself dishes she brings for lunch.
Dangerous experiences apart, Joan’s father’s place as a custodian on the native highschool offers her an early — and potent — look into one thing that may’t assist however each thrill and confuse her: the lifetime of the all-American teen. And when kiddo Joan stumbles into promenade, the place she and your complete auditorium are reminded that the promenade king and queen “characterize American values and who all of us try to be,” we are able to’t assist however see how a lot injury this might do to an impressionable little one, irrespective of how hammily such key moments are dealt with.
That Joan would develop as much as be a teen who’s woefully unable (or unwilling) to think about the implications of her actions is probably the most down-to-earth factor of Wang’s often-inflated (and, nonetheless, by no means fairly humorous) function. Teen Joan pinches her nostril to make it look smaller, gleefully posts pictures which were run by way of a filter to make her look white, admonishes her mom to “communicate English,” and nonetheless in some way believes she could be elected promenade queen. However as she walks the halls of her highschool — pasted with large blow-up portraits of (white) queens and kings of years previous — we all know it’s to not be.
However what if we’re fallacious? Tucked right into a boxy side ratio (all the higher to sign the confines of her present life, an efficient if apparent trick), Joan tries her damndest to be another person, anybody else, even when meaning abandoning her household to spend even a second in head imply lady Olivia’s (Amelie Zilber) extremely demeaning shadow. When the corporate behind her oft-used “Ethnos” filter messages her on Instagram, providing her a particular deal with for being a super-user, Joan goes together with it, largely as a result of she’s too basically damaged and empty to place up any form of combat (or to point out any precise curiosity for the madness that’s about to unfold).
In certainly one of many overly difficult set-ups, we quickly study that Ethnos isn’t just a social media filter, it’s additionally a “Substance”-esque clandestine company that focuses on ethnic reassignment surgical procedure. Sounds unhealthy! However when smarmy physician and head Ethnos man Willie (R. Keith Harris) provides up his companies to Joan, she will be able to barely signal on the dotted line (learn: trick her poor mom into signing) quick sufficient. “Should you can’t beat them, be them,” the unhealthy physician sneers at Joan, and who might presumably give a rattling about any repercussions past the speedy pleasure of lengthy blonde hair and on the spot entry into the rarefied world of the worst individuals at this, or any highschool?
After all, the second Joan turns into “Jo Hunt” (now performed by Mckenna Grace, believably each dazzled and horrified), the movie’s side ratio pops proper out, all the higher to shepherd within the big-ness of this model new life. That Jo is rapidly taken into Olivia’s pal group — and touted for a promenade queen berth to match — doesn’t shock, however given the broadness of the movie’s early acts, among the different twists that comply with do sting. Joan’s dad and mom’ reactions are layered and sophisticated, her shocked greatest pal Brindha (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan in a scene-stealing flip) is the one one prepared to say how fucked this all is, and Joan/Jo is pressured to deal with simply how staggeringly shallow she actually is.
Much less satirical than it would sound, way more unhappy than any of its one-off comedic trappings (once more: large portraits of former promenade queens line the corridor, “Bottoms” would by no means) let on, “Slanted” quickly appears to be careening straight towards tragedy that Wang doesn’t again away from. Whereas Wang typically swings too extensive — “Slanted” will get actually gross far too late, a twist involving Olivia feels completely out of left discipline — the larger image is a compelling one, wealthy with pointed questions and damning solutions. Discuss an American nightmare.
Grade: B-
“Slanted” premiered at SXSW 2025. It’s at present in search of U.S. distribution.
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