Affluent youth, vanity, obsession, and the archest kind of humor define the trailer for Ingrid Goes West, a satire of today’s social media fascination and the culture it objectifies. Imagine Evelyn Waugh’s horror at this modern-day succession of vile bodies, their antics not just on display in newspapers and tabloids but splashed online for people across the world.
The practice of documenting a candy-colored version of your life on social media does create an odd sort of intimacy, and it’s not a big step to imagine someone you’ve never met latching on to this false idea of you. That creepy idea is at the core of Ingrid Goes West, and it offers star Aubrey Plaza the opportunity to put a twist on her usual deadpan, uncomfortable brand of humor.
The object of Plaza’s fascination is played by Elizabeth Olsen, who has found steady work without ever getting material as strong as her breakout, Martha Marcy May Marlene. The kind of sharp satire Ingrid Goes West promises could give her another opportunity to shine, especially since the film nabbed a screenplay award at the Sundance Film Festival. The film also marks the welcome return of O’Shea Jackson Jr. in his first role after Straight Outta Compton.
As a feature debut, Ingrid Goes West is an ambitious step for co-writer and director Matt Spicer, who will need have firm control over the film’s tone to make this dark satire work. Still, it’s hard to imagine anyone not of the social media generation getting its flaws and its benefits, so a fresh face is probably exactly what this film needs.
Ingrid Goes West is directed by Matt Spicer and stars Aubrey Plaza, Elizabeth Olsen, and O’Shea Jackson Jr.. It will be released in the U.S. on August 4th, 2017. Further release dates are not currently known.
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