Harmony Korine’s ARGGO Dr1ft was an Infrared Mind Fuck 

The latest film by director and artist Harmony Korine , Aggro Dr1ft has finally hit the movie theaters. After a year long wait and multiple strip club showings, I am proud to say that I was able to see the movie at my local Alamo Theater rather than at the strip club; but I must say after finishing the movie I’ve come to understand the directors preference of screening Aggro Dr1ft at the strip club.

Spoilers: This may be my raunchiest article to date.

Aggro Dr1ft strays from the anticipated Dogme95 film style usually provided during a cinematic viewing of a Harmony Korine film. From beginning to end newcomers will always ask “what am I watching?” “Is this a real film?” “What am I watching x2” “Should I leave the theater?”  All of these questions are proper concerns, only mentally sane people would ask. Instead the fan’s of Harmony Korine sit in laughter often tearing from such comic relief, not concerned by questions or answers, because as we have learned during a Harmony Korine film YOU DO NOT ASK QUESTIONS. It is almost as if asking a question is against enjoying the film, which I can agree. Searching for answers throughout a Harmony Korine film can be the same as searching for the single piece of corn in a bowl of shit. You may find it, but the answer for how it got there will forever be a mystery. 

Unlike Korine’s previous film  Julien Donkey Boy, one of my favorite films; Aggro Dr1ft was different. For starters the complete film was in inferred, yes you heard me right almost as if your looking through binoculars for over an hour of screen time. Instead of Korine using the full screen ratio, it was cropped in what seemed to be a 4:3 aspect ratio as if I paid to watch this on an wide screen with only potential of a vintage crt tv . 

The color’s were visually stunning almost breath taking as you sit in the theater wondering if the actors on the screen are human, demons, or controlled and possessed by demons. Aggro Dr1ft is dystopian film, embraces mysoginy, and its thin plot at points can make the film seem redundant. 

Phrases such as “I am the greatest assassin” “You are a coward, why can’t you kill me” or the view of watching some burly man grunt and thrust his pelvis while saying “Dance Bitch, Dance Bitch” repeated throughout the movie over 10 times, maybe more.

The plot of the movie is thin, as it follows a family man, who is believes he is the greatest assassin and receives a bounty to face one of the biggest killers in their world. Throughout the film you are in limbo between his internal monolouges and spoken thoughts; at times they merge into a chaotic monologue.

Travis Scott is also featured in the film as a mercenary named Zion, who doesn’t enjoy reading and only has read The Bible. Till this day, I still don’t understand Travis Scott’s role in the film or why he was the only person with a lizard tounge; but these thoughts are for when I rewatch the film.

Throughout the movie, you never gain a clear image of the actors; which becomes refreshing over time when you notice it doesn’t matter either way. 

Irony prevails when the slow paced speech contradicting the fast paced club music, colors flickering, between vocal and visual non-sense that causes the viewer to burst into laughter. 

At a certain point I wasn’t sure if the movie was funny or my experience sitting next to a couple feeding each other cheeseburgers, mozzarella sticks and other fried food items while rubbing each others thighs. Either way it fit the narrative of “What the actual fuck is going on?”

I finished the movie and called my fiancé, she inquired if I enjoyed the film. All I could say was, it was interesting but hard to explain. WHAT SORT OF RESPONSE IS THIS, IT FELT AS IF I WENT THROUGH A VOID.

I heard movie goers behind me claiming that the movie was rad, others claimed it was a waste of their time.

For myself, I was just happy to see a Harmony Korine Film in theaters that was reminiscent of his older style. I disliked Spring Breakers, I disliked Beach Bum, I couldn’t stand trash humpers; but something about Arrgo Dr1ft I enjoyed.

I suggest to watch  these previous films of Korine’s prior to watching Aggro Dr1ft; Ken Park, Gummo, Julien Donkey Boy and The Fourth Dimension are all movies I did enjoy.

Overall: Thin Plot, Testing the viewers patience, will rewatch.