Director: Gregg Araki
Screenplay: Gregg Araki
Starring: Thomas Dekker, Haley Bennett, Juno Temple, Roxane Mesquida, Brennan Mejida, James Duval
Running Time: 83 minutes
Genre: Science-fiction, comedy, surreal
This bizarre science-fiction comedy centres on 18 year old sexually "undeclared" college student Smith (Dekker) who, when he is not lusting after guys and girls, spends his time hanging out with his best friend Stella (Bennett) who is involved in a difficult relationship with the beautiful but unstable Lorelei (Mesquida) who has bizarre psychic powers. Smith strikes up a friendship with British student, London (Temple). He also finds himself plagued by bizarre dreams, and becomes preoccupied with a mysterious red-haired girl (Nicole LaLiberte) who appears to be threatened by mysterious figures wearing animal masks. Smith becomes convinced that the masked figures are also targeting him. However Smith, Stella and London soon find out that there is far more going on then they could ever have imagined.
Gregg Araki's films tend to be very much love them or hate them. He is a good director with a strong visual sense and a distinctive take on the world. This film treads very familiar Araki territory being a surreal, teenage sex comedy. It has a very distinctive visual style of lurid, bright colours and bizarre transition effects between scenes. The attractive, and never knowingly over-dressed, cast are engaging and seem to be having a great time throughout. Coming across at times like an episode of Dawson's Creek if it was written by Bret Easton Ellis, if you can tune into Araki's wavelength and enjoy his particular brand of sexy, camp surreal take on teen angst you can have a great time with this movie.
It is entertaining and frequently very funny, however it does have the problem of trying too hard to be hip. However even if you don't like it, it is too startling and strange to get dull.
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