Baby Invasion

Once again I have no idea on what I think of this.

Yet another experimental experience by Harmony Korine.

I don't know what this film is. If it can even be considered a film.

Like Aggro Dr1ft it's a YTP made cinematic. Which I like a lot.

But there's ultimately nothing. I don't even think I can give a proper rating. I didn't hate it, but watching it just made me feel very empty.

Maybe that's the point? The film's Livestream chat makes many references to nihilism and the word itself is mentioned near constantly.

The whole film is an assault on the senses and much like Aggro Dr1ft it's filled with existential dread throughout.

Some moments in this whole thing genuinely unnerved me and even startled me at times.

If I had to guess the film is allegorical on video game violence and how do we draw the line between fantasy violence and IRL violence? I can't help but feel the Spring Breakers vibes coming back as Harmony probably made this to be the ultimate middle finger to Gen Z and perhaps is a warning on the future of Gen Alpha iPad babies.

I can't discern any other meaning beneath this film's symbolism. It's beyond Lynchian, it's something completely different.

Once again people are overreacting to the AI usage in the film. As it's barely there at all. Most of the film is covered in trippy visuals and animations.

This film feels horrifying. I can't really process my thoughts on it.

It is certainly a spectacle to behold. And I'd say it's definitely better than Aggro. Because at least this movie doesn't pretend to have a plot.

The film itself straight up says it's not a movie or a game or real life while simultaneously saying that it is.

The film doesn't know and knows at the same time. It's just screwing with you. Which is what Korine usually does.

Nightmare fuel with a rainbow coat of paint.

Tbh tho this would make for a bad ass SWAT 4 mod.

7/10.

Doubling down on everything irritating found in AGGRO DR1FT, Baby Invasion soon becomes numbingly repetitive and could only have come from the clinically insane mind of Harmony Korine. Despite all the creative ideas and its attempt to further push the boundaries with his recent affiliations towards his EDGLRD aesthetic, the film ultimately settles for infantilised drivel, horrific sound design, nausea-inducing visuals and generative AI monstrosities. Lacking any form of cinematic style, Baby Invasion may attempt to simulate a video game but it fails to include the elements that have made gaming such a unique art form; be it a compelling narrative or even a satisfying gameplay loop. It's one thing to play a video game... but sitting down and watching one, especially as bad as this, is frankly quite boring. It's clear that Korine wants nothing to do with conventional cinema anymore, thriving on mere gimmicks, he thinks he's cracked the code on what comes next, but I sincerely hope he's miserably wrong.

Some people would like you to believe that this is "Pushing Boundaries" or "breaking the mold". I don't know who they're trying to convince but any normal person will watch this and within 30 seconds realize this is garbage. There's a reason this isn't a "cinematic style" is simply because there is nothing cinematic about it. Nothing. I'm not sure what Korine wanted to achieve with this. Perhaps make it so bad that people will walk about it, making more and more people wanting to see what the "big deal"? Hoping to make a cult classic - one of those "it's so bad it's good" movies. At least those movies are entertaining. This is painful to watch, and simply cringe. If anyone really wants to see what the "big deal" is, simply watch the trailer. Garbage is garbage, no matter how much you want to put an artistic spin on it.

This experiment of what constitutes film in a world of low attention spans and using multiple screens at the same time barrages the viewer with information and brainrot. A commentary on kids' access to violent media and how that affects their behavior, Baby Invasion is one of a kind, but not for long, as Korine predicts.

Harmony Korine, the filmmaker behind the scenes, has recently turned to experimental film and questions what will come of the film industry after cinema. He wonders if soon people won't be willing to sit for 90 minutes in a theater to watch a film. AGGRO DR1FT, his first dissection of this new 'post-cinema' movement likened this film in its equally unconventional format, being filmed entirely in thermal vision.

It is completely understandable why most people disliked the film, but innovation like this is crucial in an era of sequels, spinoffs, and the overall hypermonetization of film. The art form is becoming less of an art form and more just a vessel to harvest money. However, as opposed to fighting back against that system, Korine feeds into it and molds it into his own expression. Not everyone will like this film, but it's not made for everyone.

It is a technology demonstration, except the artist has zero proficiency in the technology they are attempting to showcase.

Baby Invasion is full frame of overlays and filters. Visual effects using artificial intelligence, video game engines, infrared depth and motion sensing, and datamoshing to name a few. Though the filmmaker seems satisfied with merely achieving the effect with little care for the end result.

It does have a very small amount of interesting naïve art. Though not always, you'll know when it's being displayed because they were smart enough to remove the simulated livestream chatroom overlay that otherwise takes up half of the frame throughout the 79 minute runtime.

I did enjoy the soundtrack which I felt accompanied the imagery well. The original score by Burial really carries the film, allowing it a chance that anyone would ever view it to the end.