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8

BrianMcCriticNov 8, 2017

A film about obsession and loneliness that deserves to be seen by many. Aubrey Plaza was born to play this role and she does it great. Plaza plays this role so well it's kind of scary. A-

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7

TrevorsViewAug 25, 2017

I admittedly relate quite a bit to the Ingrid of Ingrid Goes West, I’ve selfishly studied people’s news feeds, publicly cried out when I felt left out, and Facebook frequently made me feel left out, particularly throughout high school. So nowI admittedly relate quite a bit to the Ingrid of Ingrid Goes West, I’ve selfishly studied people’s news feeds, publicly cried out when I felt left out, and Facebook frequently made me feel left out, particularly throughout high school. So now the common emotion cranks up to eleven when watching the Instagram obsession of Ingrid. These usually mundane, harsh glowing screens within the larger movie screen prove to us how social media has turned us into layered liars, until an @ symbol in front of our specialized name replaces our flesh-and-bone identity.

Ingrid’s story starts after getting out of rehab for stalking and pepper-spraying the bride of a wedding she didn’t get invited to. Now, she spends significant time revising the way she types laughing in a comment while scrolling through her feed, just like what I too have done before. This lonely main character stalks everybody she wants to mimic, and openly hates them for the public to see. Yet we still understand her predicament, since we are immediately told why. She cries uncontrollably when watching the happier lives through her news feed, mainly because she lost her mother to a heart attack at a young age, her urn resting in the living room.

Then when she starts stalking another young woman in Los Angeles, the fun really begins. The stalking starts normal enough, but you soon grow amazed to see the dangerous and often funny risks she takes to steal and lie her way to friendship. Just when you thought she already reached her limit, she proves you dead wrong.

Since everything passes through a filter nowadays, director and co-writer Matt Spicer matches the common Instagram user’s worldview: sunbeams, drinks served in mason jars, hammered copper cups, Joan Didion novels, and modern “art” sold of social media lingo pasted onto paintings. Even the fashion trends here match the creativity millennials contributed to society, setting a strong contrast between the filtered and unfiltered life. At home, she throws on miserable rags, sweats, and towels. When out in public, she attempts to look confident in her lightweight, costly dress. When she finds the ideal Instagram figure she wants to befriend, she copies her look, including dying her hair blonde in a look which clashes against her dark skintone. The usually gorgeous actress, Aubrey Plaza, (Parks and Recreation, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World) looks unflattering as Ingrid, dissimilar to the girl she idolizes, who flaunts the most Instagram-y hairstyle and wardrobe.

My greatest praise goes to the casting director, stunt choreographers, pyrotechnicians, and visual effects team for creating an intense, valuable production where communication was clearly strong. Although, stylistically speaking, you could tell this was Spicer’s first attempt at a full-length feature. Early on, he sets up a montage of still images in the style of The Big Short, only never to be seen again. For the most part, the camera and lighting decisions look very plain, sometimes even underexposed, especially with the white walls plastered along the set pieces.

If anything else bothered me, besides the characters’ inconsistent motives, it was the unrealistic “fake out” ending like in Birdman or (the Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) that communicated a potentially harmful message.

Looking beyond the flaws, the performances turn out better than they needed to be, Aubrey Plaza’s sorely delightful portrayal compels you as she drowns in a pool of her own mascara-drenched tears. Billy Magnussen (Bridge of Spies, Into the Woods) also gives a very disturbing performance as a drug-addicted brother. Plus, Ingrid’s Los Angeles landlord, a vapor-smoking screenwriter, played by O'Shea Jackson Jr. (Straight Outta Compton), sombers you with his backstory about why he loves Batman so much, then delights you when he and his lover engage in Catwoman-themed sex.

So while the visuals may not capture the Los Angeles culture, the people in it certainly do. They trap you in the city by bringing the lighthearted sunny appearance into thriller territory packed with robberies and cocaine. So Ingrid Goes West does do one thing better than La La Land: Communicating the hard truth about the famous city of stars.

Overall, Ingrid Goes West gave me one important takeaway: tell the truth on social media, for we each need that openness to let others know the real us. Once the real us comes out, then the real friends will soon open up to us.… Expand

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9

LamontRaymondAug 24, 2017

Such a well-executed, well-directed film. Aubrey Plaza does a phenomenal job, as usual, but O'Shea Jackson is the glue that makes it work, tonally. Very much worth seeing.

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8

KeithDowSep 1, 2017

'Ingrid Goes West' is a timely and well-executed take on the world of insta-fame. Aubrey Plaza is perfect in the role of a mentally unhinged wanna-be "it girl" armed with a smartphone, and the rest of the supporting actors are just as'Ingrid Goes West' is a timely and well-executed take on the world of insta-fame. Aubrey Plaza is perfect in the role of a mentally unhinged wanna-be "it girl" armed with a smartphone, and the rest of the supporting actors are just as believably cast.

During the run-up to the ending, I found my thoughts wandering ahead, wondering how they were going to bring the story to a fitting conclusion. The actual result was unexpected, original, and incredibly prescient. Writer-Director Matt Spicer is clearly talented and his decision to make a debut feature film that focuses on two female leads is quite bold and highly respectable. As a result, we'll be keeping an eye on him, hoping Hollywood success and longevity lies ahead.… Expand

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8

BuddahAug 25, 2017

This was a very disturbing and uncomfortable film to watch about an extreme stalker. I was not fond of this character in which this story was about, and that is due to Aubrey Plaza's acting. That might seem like a criticism, but in fact herThis was a very disturbing and uncomfortable film to watch about an extreme stalker. I was not fond of this character in which this story was about, and that is due to Aubrey Plaza's acting. That might seem like a criticism, but in fact her acting is so damn good. Albeit I am squirming at times by the decisions she makes throughout the movie. Audrey does her job so well, I do not know I care about her character, Ingrid, until the end of the movie when tears suddenly well up in my eyes. This movie was almost bordering on the horror genre and as a big fan, I loved that about it. The final scene left me wanting more, and that is what each one of us wants when we drop the bills down for a movie. I would nominate Audrey Plaza for an Oscar right now if I had a vote because this person she created will stay with me for a very long time, in a most creepy, shivering type of memory.… Expand

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7

TVJerryAug 31, 2017

In a young culture that's obsessed with being "liked" on social media, Ingrid (Aubrey Plaza) is an awkward misfit who's overly fanatical about her image. She moves to LA to stalk her favorite Instagram influencer (Elizabeth Olsen), who'sIn a young culture that's obsessed with being "liked" on social media, Ingrid (Aubrey Plaza) is an awkward misfit who's overly fanatical about her image. She moves to LA to stalk her favorite Instagram influencer (Elizabeth Olsen), who's superficial, shallow and self-possessed. Comparisons to "Single White Female" are inevitable and Plaza effectively captures that creepy vibe. She also manages to make her character understandable, although not ever sympathetic. Olsen's portrayal also embodies the appropriate vacant, phony vibe. The only real sincere character is played by O'Shea Jackson, Jr. who's appealing in his first role since "Straight Outta Compton." The film's desperate narrative pushes credibility in some of the relationships (esp. his), but it does tell a compelling story. After the controversy over "13 Reasons Why," it's disconcerting that a similar subject reinforces desperate behavior, even though it effectively explores the phenomenon. BTW, there's a strange little short that precedes the feature.… Expand

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4

GreatMartinAug 30, 2017

Just as I won’t stop reading a book no matter how bad it may be I find it almost impossible to walk out of a movie theatre until the end credits start. I watched “Ingrid Goes West” for 90 boring, never-ending, slow dragging minutes wantingJust as I won’t stop reading a book no matter how bad it may be I find it almost impossible to walk out of a movie theatre until the end credits start. I watched “Ingrid Goes West” for 90 boring, never-ending, slow dragging minutes wanting to walk out though I was sort of taken with Aubrey Plaza’s performance in the title role but the last 7 minutes made me glad I stayed as not only did her performance reach an even higher level but the whole picture crystallized into what the screenplay writers Matt Spicer, who also directed, and David Branson Smith wanted.

Up to that ninetieth minute, the film seemed to be aimed at the current generation and their total involvement with smartphones, Instagram, social media, mores, manners, and comments. We meet Ingrid, after time in a psychiatric hospital, whose mother just died leaving her $65,000. Ingrid is basically a cyber stalker and becomes intrigued with Taylor Sloane (played by Elizabeth Olsen) who is famous for having thousands of followers on her Instagram account and becomes even more famous shilling products.

Ingrid takes her bag of money, leaves Pennsylvania and takes off for Los Angeles, rents a house from Dan (O’Shea Jackson, Jr.) a screenwriter who is obsessed with Batman and is writing a film, so he believes the next Batman film. After concocting a plan to meet Taylor she becomes her BFF and insinuates herself with Taylor’s husband, Ezra (Wyatt Russell) who claims to be an artist of some sort. Then enters what is to become Ingrid’s nemesis, Taylor’s brother Nicky (Billy Magnussen) an amoral coke addict and alcoholic who is very aware he is a muscle gym guy without any inhibitions.

While we know Ingrid can be and has been violent in the past and we see her in all sorts of moods from feeling ecstatic to a deep sadness there is that sense of craziness about her that will come to the forefront, along with the violence.

The screenplay and the characters are all over the place and there are constant shots of smart-phones with Snapshots and Instagram lines but the focus is on Ingrid and her acts in the last 7 minutes show who she really is and makes up for a lot of scenes that don’t make sense or are just fillers for the film.

Aubrey Plaza makes the film what it is and though she has done TV and a few other movies this should be the one that makes her a star if the audience can sit through the first 90 minutes!… Expand

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8

SpangleAug 27, 2017

A truly challenging watch from beginning to end, Ingrid Goes West is one of those films that is often disturbing, frightening, darkly comedic, and oh so cringey. No matter how smart and funny it is, the cringey actions of Ingrid ThorburnA truly challenging watch from beginning to end, Ingrid Goes West is one of those films that is often disturbing, frightening, darkly comedic, and oh so cringey. No matter how smart and funny it is, the cringey actions of Ingrid Thorburn (Aubrey Plaza) keep the film as being one that is often best watched through the gaps between one's fingers. Spiraling out of control as she stalks and befriends social media influencer Taylor Sloane (Elizabeth Olsen), strikes up a romance with landlord Dan Pinto (O'Shea Jackson Jr.), and moves to Los Angeles, Ingrid is a woman with a few screws loose in her head. A tragic figure, she serves as the gateway for director Matt Spicer to critique modern culture, celebrity worship, and reveal the damage both have done to those who partake or follow these vapid and fake human beings that proliferate social media. Equal parts funny, dark, and sad, Ingrid Goes West is an excellent feature debut for Spicer.

From the very get go, we are introduced to the world of Ingrid. Using Instagram extensively and being hurt by a "friend" that did not invite her to her wedding, Ingrid resorts to stalking the woman's instagram, crying over the wedding photos, and then showing up to pepper spray the beaming bride. Locked up in a mental hospital, healing, and soon released, Ingrid decides to get a new start in Los Angeles after reading a magazine ominously calls Taylor Sloane "your next girl crush". A classic social media influencer with sponsored posts, "deep" quotes with stupid photos, and living in a constant state of vacation, Taylor is the perfect target for Ingrid. Working her way in Taylor's life by stealing her dog and then returning it the next day, Ingrid befriends Taylor and her husband Ezra (Wyatt Russell) effortlessly and quickly catapults to minor stardom after she is included in an Instagram post by Taylor. Meanwhile, she uses her inheritance from her mother's death to rent an apartment from Dan and abuses his trust by both taking his car all day, missing a planed appointment with him that she agreed to in order to borrow his car, and by wrecking that very same car. What ensues is an often chilling portrait of modern society and the damaging effects social media has had.

Chief amongst these critiques is Spicer's demonstration of how life is now lived through phones and social media. Part of it is certainly being obsessed with news and what is happening, but much of it is in the desperate search for affirmation. By liking posts on Instagram and commenting constantly, Ingrid hopes to create new friends and be as popular as the girls she sees on the site. In a life of solitude after her mother's death, this world of social media is her only opportunity for human interaction and she makes the very most of this chance. Yet, she is hardly the only one. Taylor lives her life in a similar fashion, yet is never called deranged for the same behavior. She lives behind a screen, posts constantly to remain popular, and forgets to actually live life in the process. Even worse, her world vision is so warped by social media that she convinces Ezra to quit his job to make paintings where he just takes somebody else's work, tosses a social media buzzword like "#SQUADGOALS" on it, and then sell it for over $1,000. This constant and desperate search for affirmation in the eyes of followers, shows the dangerous impact social media has had on our world. Emotion, feeling, experience, and life, have become disposable. In their place, false compliments and shallow popularity have taken their place with people valuing themselves solely based upon how many followers they have and how many likes they get. Prior to her discovering that Ingrid is a psycho, Taylor is great friends with her. However, once Harley (Pom Klementieff) - a social influencer with 1 million followers - arrives in town, Taylor forgets all about Ingrid. Even her husband feels slighted by her new lifestyle, as she was once a normal girl with no friends in Los Angeles, but would now do anything for followers. By sacrificing herself and her own personality in the name of becoming famous on Instagram, Taylor has lost herself in this world and, for many, the same exact thing occurs. Social media has become people's reality with a phone not just being a device to call or text occasionally, but rather a life support machine that serves as a person's only connection to the outside world. In Ingrid Goes West, we see Taylor and Ingrid do drugs, blow their money, and practically sell their soul, to gain any semblance of popularity. For them, nothing is too steep a price for a like on Instagram.… Expand

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7

Compi24Aug 29, 2017

A kind of "Talented Mr. Ripley" meets "The King Of Comedy" for the millennial circuit, "Ingrid Goes West" does well in blending the topical social commentary with the darkly comic stylings of its perfectly talented cast. The result is anA kind of "Talented Mr. Ripley" meets "The King Of Comedy" for the millennial circuit, "Ingrid Goes West" does well in blending the topical social commentary with the darkly comic stylings of its perfectly talented cast. The result is an insightful, if appropriately unsettling study of the limits certain individuals will traverse in order to make themselves appear the way they want to be perceived, sociopathy or not. High marks go to Aubrey Plaza for what is far and away the most brilliant performance she's ever given, but make no mistake, the supporting cast - especially Elizabeth Olsen, O'Shea Jackson Jr., and Wyatt Russell - also works hard to keep this piece afloat.… Expand

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9

j1trainAug 31, 2017

Hilariously and cringingly of the moment, anchored by a great performance from Aubrey Plaza leading a perfectly cast ensemble. It's like a prequel to Black Mirror's season three "Nosedive" episode, at once laugh out loud and horrifying. MightHilariously and cringingly of the moment, anchored by a great performance from Aubrey Plaza leading a perfectly cast ensemble. It's like a prequel to Black Mirror's season three "Nosedive" episode, at once laugh out loud and horrifying. Might just make you put your phone down.… Expand

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9

GinaKAug 30, 2017

What an enjoyable film this is! Very funny with a screenplay that was inventive but still made sense (it deserved to win at Sundance), and full of wonderfully sly comic acting by the entire cast, especially Aubrey Plaza and Elizabeth Olsen.

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6

moviemitch96Aug 26, 2017

Aubrey Plaza gives one of the better performances of her career as of late, but unfortunately, that wasn't quite enough to make up for the rest of this uneven oddity of a film that I felt attempted to deliver a few too many mixed messages onAubrey Plaza gives one of the better performances of her career as of late, but unfortunately, that wasn't quite enough to make up for the rest of this uneven oddity of a film that I felt attempted to deliver a few too many mixed messages on society, social media, etc. If anything, it had me leaving the theater with an uneasy feeling about society and the sort of impact that social media can have on it, especially on some of the more unstable ones, as examined in the film with Plaza's titular character. Overall, if you're a fan of Plaza, she's the main reason to see this. Otherwise, not really worth it in my opinion.… Expand

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9

johndoe2014Sep 1, 2017

Will grow as a semi-classic. True horror movie in that it is based in all possible events. Not fun to watch, but it is effective. And effectively cautionary - kind of like Super-size me for a big part of society.

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9

Brent_MarchantSep 3, 2017

A scathingly devastating dressing down of social media culture and our vapid obsession with today's undeservedly overrated adult iteration of "the popular kids." Aubrey Plaza delivers a solid, award-worthy performance in the title character'sA scathingly devastating dressing down of social media culture and our vapid obsession with today's undeservedly overrated adult iteration of "the popular kids." Aubrey Plaza delivers a solid, award-worthy performance in the title character's role, backed by a strong cast of supporting players who execute their roles with precision and incisive accuracy. Those who easily see through the thin veneer of what's supposedly laudable these days will handily detect the unfortunate shallowness of many of our collective ways wickedly brought to life in this impressive debut feature from director Matt Spicer. Let's hope the message sinks in, especially amongst those most in need of getting it.… Expand

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7

badgerryan19Oct 25, 2017

Fun and different. Aubrey Plaza gives a great performance and she really sells that weird stalker she was going for. The movie also has some laughs and some genuine heart felt moments. This movie is all about some Instagram and maybe itFun and different. Aubrey Plaza gives a great performance and she really sells that weird stalker she was going for. The movie also has some laughs and some genuine heart felt moments. This movie is all about some Instagram and maybe it relies a little too much on it.… Expand

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6

DirigiblePulpSep 28, 2017

This premise is so ripe for social satire, mocking deconstruction of a self-obsessed generation, and good old-fashioned thrills and chills, yet it settles for light fun and self-congratulatory good humor. It never digs deep enough to drawThis premise is so ripe for social satire, mocking deconstruction of a self-obsessed generation, and good old-fashioned thrills and chills, yet it settles for light fun and self-congratulatory good humor. It never digs deep enough to draw blood nor aims for the belly enough to knock the wind out of you - it's just alright.… Expand