Harmony Korine’s directed film Aggro Dr1ft is all set to mark its theatrical release soon. In its premiere, the film has garnered mixed reviews from critics. The 2023 American experimental action film had its world premiere at the 80th Venice International Film Festival on September 2, 2023. The film is presented entirely in infrared photography and Korine has used abstract editing to convey anxieties about growing older, being a married man, and serving as a father to two children in this violent world.
The filmmaker is known for his methods, which feature an erratic, loose, and transgressive aesthetic. He explores taboo themes and incorporates experimental techniques, and he works with art, music, fashion, and advertising.
During an appearance at the Locarno Film Festival, Korine stated, referring to his film Aggro Dr1ft, “I am excited. I have never made anything like it. I was trying not to make a movie, and I don’t know if it will be a scandal. But it will be its own statement.”
Well, Korine’s film indeed turned out to be scandalous as it has garnered a divisive reception at fall festivals. Some people thought it was disrespectful to cinema pioneers like Eadweard Muybridge and Orson Welles, while others found it entertaining despite its flaws.
In a positive review, Mark Hanson of Slant Magazine wrote that the film “crafted an experience that’s worth tripping out to, cotton mouth be damned.” Peter Debruge of Variety gave the film a mixed review, writing that the film “is visually thrilling but somewhat tedious to sit through — better as wallpaper than the main attraction.” Meanwhile, Bilge Ebiri of Vulture was more negative in his review. In response to Harmony Korine claiming that “he wasn’t trying to make a movie,” Elbiri quipped, “Well, he hasn’t.“
What can be expected from Aggro Dr1ft?
The film stars Jordi Mollà and Travis Scott. It revolves around a melancholic assassin named BO (Jordi Mollà). He prepares to vanquish a demonic crime lord in a Floridian realm of vivid pinks, blazing yellows, and deep purples. But the particulars of its minimalist plot are largely moot, and the vibe is what’s paramount.
Korine has named this new aesthetic ‘game core,’ which aptly suits the film’s theme. In the film, the viewers can see even the most casual player recognizing the rhythms and visual cues. The film’s aesthetic is also genuinely new as it is filmed in Miami, where the city hums with the infrared lens’ neon hues. The AI adds a dynamic second skin to the actors. When everything comes together, the movie offers a thrilling and innovative experience.
The film is scheduled for a theatrical release in 17 theaters across the US from May 10 to 16.
