“Aggro Dr1ft” feels like a video game cutscene compilation turned into an eighty-minute feature film; at its worst, it takes on the feel of a “Grand Theft Auto” installment, but without the entertainment. Harmony Korine delivers an off-kitsch thriller with an original, albeit jarring, infra-red aesthetic and a baffling screenplay.
The Visionary and Experimental Limitations of Harmony Korine
Although I dislike most of the works in his filmography, there’s something rather interesting about Harmony Korine and the way in which he proceeds with each one of his projects. One of the reasons his works don’t appeal to me is their huge detachment from reality and humanity, as well as the lack of emotional strength. The films base themselves more so on atmosphere and vibes rather than story. You never feel that a genuine emotion is pouring from the frame. Each idea or concept feels more like a play on setting and aesthetics rather than something that moves the story forward on a engaging or fascinating way.
He may be unique in the fine definition of the word, as nobody makes films like him. But he has many limitations as a visionary and experimental filmmaker that causes him to never reach a more grand or greater scale. Some people might go along for the ride and enjoy the wavelengths of chaotic vibrancy created by Korine and his ragtag team of misfits. That’s the reason he has become a cult filmmaker. And his gift to the world is making these random projects that divdes everyone who comes across with them. Either you enjoy them for their nonsense or loath them completely.
There is rarely an in-between the two. However, I haven’t been able to come to terms with it. Believe it or not, I still want him to surprise me with one of his projects. I still think he can do something memorable if he puts his mind to the project. Recently, we saw that the legendary director Terrence Malick has offered him a personal script that he can direct. I don’t know how that is going to work entirely. But it sure does entice cinephiles everywhere, whether or not you dislike the man and his movies.
Infra-Red As a Visual Technique
Making its run through the fall film festival circuit is Korine’s latest joint, “Aggro Dr1ft.” It is a creative and unique project that Korine has managed to put together. But it is more so a childish trial-and-error creation than an actual film. The project is entirely shot in infra-red, looking like if there was a Snapchat filter attached. It has little-to-no-story, instead opting for a more video game-like experience that serves as both its token of originality and its breaking point. However, the entertainment from playing on your Xbox or PlayStation doesn’t translate here.
“Aggro Dr1ft” follows an assassin, Bo (Jordi Mollà), who believes he’s the best in the business regarding tracking and hunting bodies down. He was born to kill, constantly reminding viewers of such via echoed voiceover. Bo also speaks about the love he has for his wife and children. The reason he kills isn’t only to provide for them. He does so because, in a way, Bo’s addicted to that cold and bloody red world. Bo resides in a crime-ridden Miami, whose underworld is covered in plenty of powerful and untrustworthy people. He plans to eliminate them all, one bullet at a time. I thought this would transition into a “John Wick”-like a revenge story or crime thriller. However, what Korine does instead is focus on other things separate from his attempt at a narrative.
A scene in “Aggro Dr1ft” (Photo: New York Film Festival 2023).
There are sword-wielding kids that appear out of nowhere, men in weird masks toting (and fetishizing) guns up in the air just for the sake of it, plenty of lap dancers (one has explicitly a scene involving some fireworks, which feels unnecessary and misogynistic), devil-like creatures, and occasional brutality. As a cherry on top of the messy sundae, Travis Scott pops by for a couple of minutes to discuss Macbeth and the bible with Bo. This description shows that any element or hint of a cohesive story is thrown out of the window. Korine makes space for foolish scenes that seem pitched by a young kid playing a “Grand Theft Auto” online.
Korine’s Inspirations of YouTube and TikTok
As the director and occasional provocateur described, “Aggro Dr1ft” offers an “immersive” experience that plays with our notion of first-person shooters. A film that comes to mind that also did something similar is “Hardcore Henry.” But just like Korine’s film, it felt like a gimmick movie rather than something proper. Korine intertwines those types of games with content creation to make something that “surpasses cinema”—a “post-film project,” or as he calls it, “blinx.” Korine has said he loathes modern films, stating TikTok videos inspire him the most now.
You can see how video games, YouTube, and the social media app have inspired his latest work. One of the few aspects you can give him props for is such. Definitely, you aren’t going to see another film like this in a long while. Although now, after this is released formally to the public, other filmmakers, both formed and newly inspired, will try to concoct a similar experience.This is a dopamine rush of a film with plenty of quick thoughts lingering around one after the other to distract the viewer with flash and specs of color. Nevertheless, “Aggro Dr1ft” ends up as a gimmick assembly of random ideas put together tightly.
The film repeats scenes from left to right with characters ranging from empty to misogynistic. Deplorable to the highest degree, it is hard to take seriosuly. The blinx project doesn’t even provoke the viewer. People often talk about Gaspar Noé and Lars von Trier as being provocateurs and periodic pranksters. But the difference between them and Korine is that they have talent and panache in their filmmaking. Meanwhile, Korine seems to be mimicking style without the narrative or goodies to back it up.
“Aggro Dr1ft” is currently playing at the New York Film Festival. The festival goes from September 29th – October 15th. Join us for continual coverage.
