Ingrid Goes West
(2017)Do you want followers?
Aubrey Plaza (Safety Not Guaranteed) leads this dark comedy as a mentally disturbed woman who chases a social media star (Elizabeth Olsen, Captain America: Civil War). Co-stars O'Shea Jackson Jr. (Straight Outta Compton) and Wyatt Russell (Everybody Wants Some).... More
Following the death of her mother and a series of self-inflicted setbacks, young Ingrid Thorburn (Plaza) escapes a humdrum existence by moving out West to befriend her Instagram obsession, LA socialite Taylor Sloane (Olsen). After a quick bond is forged between these unlikeliest of friends, the façade begins to crack in both women’s lives...Hide
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Directed by Matt Spicer (feature debut)
Starring Aubrey Plaza, Elizabeth Olsen, Wyatt Russell, Billy Magnussen, Pom Klementieff, Joseph Breen, Hannah Pearl Utt
Written by Matt Spicer, David Branson Smith
Out Now (On-Demand,
DVD or Blu-Ray)
On Demand, DVD & Blu-Ray
Available from 6 providers
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Ingrid Goes West
BY freshdude superstar
It absolutely nails the Instagram generation, the image obsessed, selfie addicted, image manufacturing millennials- with wicked wit and humour ... and admittedly if... More you use social media, you more than likely will see some of yourself in it.Hide
The Press Reviews
Often sharply amusing, crisply assembled and features game, broad-brushstroke performances from leads Aubrey Plaza and Elizabeth Olsen. Full Review
A semi-ironic, yet still-empathetic “Single White Female” for the Facebook generation... Full Review
Plaza's tremendous performance shines, and the script thankfully is as interested in these characters as it is in commenting on social media culture. Full Review
Such a vivid and minute portrait of our boho-chic, mid-century modern, reclaimed wood, custom typography, shrub-swilling, microgreens-on-heirloom-quinoa moment that the characters can be outlines, and it doesn't really affect the ride. Full Review
This isn't a simple takedown of social media-obsessed Californians - that would be too easy. Instead, Spicer looks past the emojis and pulls out the depression, inauthenticity and loneliness that's behind the need for constant online affirmation. Full Review
Ingrid Goes West has fun with some social media tropes and Southern California tendencies, but it feels less like a satire than a cautionary tale, for both the envious and the envied. Full Review
...a darkly funny cautionary tale about the dangers of social media... Full Review
It's very funny and hilariously judgmental about LA hipsterism and showbiz exclusivity. Full Review
A necessary and mostly very entertaining film, arriving at exactly the right time. Full Review
Both a sharply funny satire of poseurs and pretenders and a withering tragedy with no clean moral exits. Full Review
BY Tony Stamp Flicks Writer
As a society we’re still grappling with the ways social media is transforming the world, from our kids growing up knowing that ‘likes’ on Facebook equal popularity, to the president of the United States threatening nuclear war on Twitter.... More
It’s slowly crept into our entertainment too, but outside of Black Mirror, there haven’t been many looks at how ‘soc med’ is changing us as people.
Enter Ingrid Goes West. In its opening minutes the titular character (played by Aubrey Plaza) is checked into a psychiatric institution as a direct result of her Instagram addiction. It’s clear that the problem is her, not the technology. But, as someone who is prone to obsession, it’s so easy to pick up her phone and get down to some serious stalking.
As soon as Ingrid is released she starts lingering on the Instagram feed of socialite Taylor Sloane (Elizabeth Olsen). It’s so enticing - perfect-seeming boyfriend, perfect-seeming meals… perfect life? It’s all too easy to pinpoint where she is geographically, and figure out how to infiltrate her life.
The film isn’t a serious sociological examination. It’s a comedy, but one with some depth to it, taking aim at the aspirational nature of online platforms. As Ingrid’s lies pile up things teeter between cringe humour and something darker. Director Matt Spicer never underplays her depth of emotion, as misguided as she may be.
Ingrid soon discovers that Taylor’s life is as complex as everybody’s, even (gasp) flawed in certain aspects. But that doesn’t stop her ingratiating herself further, only stymied by the entrance of Taylor’s brother Nicky, played with spectacular loathsomeness by Billy Magnussen.
He’s pure malice, but is he the villain of this story? Or is that Ingrid herself? Ingrid Goes West doesn’t offer any easy answers, and it’s much better for it.Hide
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