AGGR0 DR1FT Review: Harmony Korine’s latest work is a blood-soaked, psychedelic assassin tale

“Some people want to do the right thing. I like doing the wrong thing.”

In 2012, James Franco spoke those words as Alien, an eccentric Florida drug dealer invented for his film by the bizarre mind of transgressive filmmaker Harmony Korine spring breakers. In many ways, unbeknownst to most, this character and his violent ways were a harbinger of the future for the creator, best known for his work on the provocative and daring 1995 film Children – and what would come would be AGGR0 DR1FTa sweaty and psychedelic assassin tale shot entirely with a thermal camera.

what is AGGR0 DR1FT around?

A spiritual successor of spring breakersKorine’s first film since 2019 The Beach Bum visits Florida in an even more violent and terrifying way, following the self-proclaimed world’s greatest assassin, Bo (played by Jordi Mollà, once dubbed “Spanish Tom Cruise”). He’s on a quest to take down Miami’s biggest villain, a hulking and misogynistic man who calls himself a “devil.” He takes pride in his work and, in an almost sultry tone, tells viewers about his victories on the field. Improvised on the basis of “ideas, a basic story and imagery” that the director came up with before filming, the dialogue immediately conveys a sense of being transported back into the larger universe of Harmony Korine and supports the bombastic visual choices.

How are the pictures in AGGR0 DR1FT?

Let’s face it, Korine’s filmography has evolved into something akin to the popular video game franchise. Grand Theft Auto. With his seventh film, he finally presents his version of this urban chaos. In the world of AGGR0 DR1FT, guns and huge asses prevail, and the characters move through the city like playable protagonists, almost lagging behind in their movements. Additionally, the film’s pacing feels like real-time gaming footage, like piloting your character through a vibrant, pixelated city of devils – and that’s enhanced by the director’s exclusive use of thermal imaging infrared cameras.

Vibrant perspective shots emphasize heat and movement, effectively turning Bo’s world into a mix of reds, yellows, blues and greens that cast faces into a sickly brightness that almost transforms the characters into an entirely different species. Korine uses a whole host of additional visual production tactics to create this stunning aesthetic, including live action, gaming engines, 3D rendering, VFX, and artificial intelligence — according to the film’s VFX designer, Joao Rosa, the film reportedly uses one “Ethical” It’s an AI version trained on internal graphics created for the film, but that’s all the information we have on it.

Korine’s visual tool is best employed in the form of a sort of demonic guardian angel, a malevolent horned creature that follows Bo around town as he commits his crimes. It’s clearly the result of a conglomerate of these artificial tools, but it’s still an effective aesthetic choice – the demon is quite gaudy to look at, it won’t lie – and a metaphorical choice as well. Bo, who is not only a cold-blooded killer but also a father and husband, constantly runs away from his demons while also using them as a deadly weapon.

AGGR0 DR1FTThe sound design is a siege for the ears

Speaking of lethal assets, it’s pretty clear that the sound design of AGGR0 DR1FT is intended as further indulgence for the senses. At the Venice Film Festival press screening, the sound was turned up so high that many viewers plugged their ears and some even left after a while because of the noise. Between piercing sound effects like the shrill screech of an eagle and producer AraabMuzik’s brooding yet bombastic music – which frankly would be great when you’re running, catching the boss in your favorite video game, or whenever you feel like you’re strong enough to beat your worst enemy – the audio aspects of Korine’s feature seem designed to annoy, stimulate and infuriate.

Travis Scott is an unexpected highlight of AGGR0 DR1FT

When it comes to the acting in this play, Mollà is certainly the anchor in the neon madness of this story. His performance is calculated, understated, and somewhat muted, but oddly enough, he’s so intriguing that you want to follow his story to the end.

However, in his feature film debut, rapper Travis Scott delivers some of the most natural dialogue in the film, at times even more so than Mollà. Roughly five minutes into the game, his character Zion speaks candidly about killing, family responsibilities, and the Bible (although he wonders aloud, “Did Julius Caesar write the Bible?” which sounds contrived, but is a clever parallel to how many great numbers are going to be despised by the company they maintain).

Alien is mentioned above spring breakers Quote about doing the wrong thing – and liking it – is the bedrock of Bo’s identity in AGGR0 DR1FT. It’s fun to watch this taboo as he grapples with this sense of lawlessness. However, Korine’s latest film is definitely not for everyone; In fact, there probably will be much Hatred of this film, that much is almost certain. But if you want a mindless mind trip full of disgusting colors, fast cars, loud guns, and lots of twerking, then go for it AGGR0 DR1FT could be just the thing for you – especially if you’re willing to bend to the rules that break the law.

AGGR0 DR1FT hits theaters on October 7th.