"Ingrid Goes West" (2017) | Sam Gall Movie Review Issue #94 Gem Mint 10.0
“Ingrid Goes West“ (2017)
Director: Matt Spicer
Writer: David Branson Smith, Matt Spicer
Starring: Aubrey Plaza, Elizabeth Olsen, O'Shea Jackson Jr., Wyatt Russell, Billy Magnussen, Pom Klementieff
Rated: R for language throughout, drug use, some sexual content and disturbing behavior
Runtime: 1h 38min
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Language: English
"An unhinged social media stalker moves to LA and insinuates herself into the life of an Instagram star."
You might like this if you like: Aubrey Plaza, Elizabeth Olsen, Comedies, Dark Comedies, Dramas, Thrillers, Comedic Thrillers, Dramedies, O'Shea Jackson Jr., Wyatt Russell, Billy Magnussen, Pom Klementieff
Elizabeth Olsen (left) & Aubrey Plaza (right) in "Ingrid Goes West" (2017)
Few weeks into Disney+'s "WandaVision", my fiancé Rachel and I were looking through Elizabeth Olsen movie trailers to see which one we’d want to watch and this one stood out to us for the mix of comedy and mystery and being big fans of both Aubrey Plaza (NBC's "Park & Recreation") and Elizabeth Olsen.
I’ve been pretty obsessed with this one ever since watching it. Aubrey and Elizabeth are in arguably their best, or at least MY favorite, roles and both give stellar performances.
Having been watching Disney+'s "WandaVision" and seeing Elizabeth Olsen grow through the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) as an actress it wasn’t as surprising to see her do something like this but nonetheless still jaw droppingly good. She played the popular girl perfectly and added a great spin to it. She really seemed like a real character I had met somewhere in life and Olsen just embodied her beautifully. In a way, I think we’ve all had a Taylor Sloane in our life.
Aubrey Plaza (left) and O'Shea Jackson Jr. (right) in "Ingrid Goes West" (2017)
Aubrey Plaza was a slice of what we love from her comedy, but a whole new slice of powerful emotions as Ingrid Thorburn. Her awkward comedy rises to a level of thriller that’s way too fun of a level to watch Aubrey Plaza play on.
The rest of the cast was a shining surprise of joy that I couldn’t really appreciate from just watching the trailer since it was so Ingrid and Taylor focused.
O’Shea Jackson Jr.. Oh my god so f’ing fantastic in this! By far my favorite role of his! One of the funniest characters with the biggest heart you could find! I would love to just hang with that guy for a day. Billy Magnussen was amazing who I loved from Netflix’s “Maniac” mini-series with Jonah Hill and Emma Stone. I also adored him in “Game Night” (2018).
Elizabeth Olsen (left) & Wyatt Russell (right) in "Ingrid Goes West" (2017)
Wyatt Russell, son of Kurt Russell, has slowly been rising to my favorite up and coming actors ever since I saw him in “22 Jump Street” (2014) and “Cold in July” (2014). Then I saw him pop up in some more things like “Black Mirror” and of course, am dying to see him portray a comic character I can’t wIt to see come to life: “U.S. Agent” who will be premiering in Disney+’s “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” on March 19.
Such a fascinating little story that feels like a slightly more light hearted “Black Mirror” episode with one of my favorite cast in a while. I keep rewatching it and falling more in love with it. Ironically, it’s a story about obsession and I certainly have become that with this film. Very curious what others thought of this film. Beautifully made and for as hilariously entertaining as it is, makes me think more than most. Speaks a lot to our time too. Check it out!
Elizabeth Olsen (left) & Aubrey Plaza (right) in "Ingrid Goes West" (2017)
Many props to writers David Branson Smith & Matt Spicer for coming up with this beautiful, charming, hilarious and terrifyingly real story. Looking forward to checking out more of your guys’ work! Also, thanks for creating possibly THE best sex scene in a movie to date! I want that to happen in every movie that has a sex scene from now on.
Written by Sam Gall on 03/05/21
CGC Grading: Gem Mint 10.0
“Earnest character work by Plaza, Olson, and O'Shea Jackson Jr., stylistically relevant visuals, and emphatic themes surpasses the script's numerous pitfalls.” - Emma Snape, Bitch Media
“It's the movie's treatment of Ingrid, though, that demonstrates Spicer's success . . . the episodes of depression [Ingrid] suffers from play out with a Cronenberg-esque decay tethered to reality.”- Matt Cipolla, Film Monthly
“Relevant, timely, and uncomfortably close to home, Ingrid Goes West delivers a quirky, fun, brutally awkward, legitimately unsettling cautionary tale about influencer culture and social media obsession.” - Brent McKnight, Seattle Times
“It's an emotionally charged, ambitious work that gives Plaza a great deal of room to show this character's unstable range of emotions. It's easily the best work she's ever done.” - Steven Prokopy, Third Coast Review
“It's a carefully observed dark comedy, equal parts Sunset Boulevard, Heathers, and The Social Network, about how our emotional needs and self image are shaped by people we've never even met.” - Chris McCoy, Memphis Flyer
“Somehow, Ingrid Goes West manages to satirise the Instagram age without coming across as condescending or archaic. It's a darkly hilarious film, and one which could go down as 2017's hidden gem.” - Kieran McLoone, Cultured Vultures
Official Trailer:
Behind the Scenes:
Another:
Available on various VOD platforms
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