Ingrid Goes West is the type of movie you get when you cross Spring Breakers with Influencers™. It follows Ingrid Thorburn (Aubrey Plaza), a slightly unhinged individual with a penchant for wanting to (almost literally) wear the skin of her favorite Instagrammers, as she goes the distance to meet, befriend, and maybe become Taylor Sloane (Elizabeth Olsen). Taylor, if you couldn't tell by the name, is one of those Instagrammers. And what is it Instagrammers want? Likes! And what does Ingrid like to give out? Likes! In abundance!
The dark comedy is the debut feature from director Matt Spicer. It's been hailed for its sardonic take on the post-ironic world Instagram has helped foster in all its glorious, enviable vapidity. Olsen's Taylor is living that #authentic dream, and Plaza's Ingrid wants it. Variety reviews it saying, "Spicer’s movie shows a better understanding of the strange ways we allow social media to manipulate our emotions—or our emojis, for that matter." The Hollywood Reporter writes, "the final effect is both weirdly entrancing and cloying." As Taylor would most likely say, since most of her lines in the trailer are platitudes, "Here for it."
Ingrid Goes West hits theaters August 11. Watch the trailer, below.
