Fucktoys

I should state upfront that I'm not the target audaince for Fucktoys, a darkly comedic intentionally campy work of hyper-confident Millennial irreverence that feels aimed at a midnight crowd of people who might be under various kinds of pharmasutical influances. Still, I found much to enjoy in writer-director-star Annapurna Sriram's feature debut. Sriram plays an upbeat, free-spirited sex worker named AP who, after a psychic (played by bounce rapper Big Freedia) tells her she's been cursed, launches herself on a quest to raise the $1K she needs to get it lifted. Raising that kind of cash shouldn't be too much trouble for this plucky, sexy, savvy charmer who knows her way around the dark corners of Trash Town. With her pal Danni (Sadie Scott) by her side, the two head off on an adventure that brings them into contact with many eccentric characters.

Playfully transgressive, unabashedly horny, and almost arogantly self-assured, this is a directorial debut that insists you pay attention to it, and then gives you plenty to feast you eyes, and thoughts, on. It looks fantastic! Shot in an array of pastel colors on 16mm film in widescreen on locations in New Orleans, this low-budget picture either had a genius art director or the most excellent indie location scout (or both). While the abundantly colorful visuals, like that shaggy, episodic narrative, and nearly too shrewd to be a compelling protagonist, come dangerously close to wearing out their welcome, nothing in the movie feels like it's been laid on too thick. This is due to the fine work by the two leads, some memorable supporting turns, and the lengthy climactic set piece that injects some real menace and stakes into what has felt like a romp up to that point.

This is more than a calling card demo movie for a new, young filmmaker/actress. This is an engaging, funny work of satirical surrealism that makes its points without pretension or preachiness. I can't say I was 100 percent on board, but I apprecate how little of a fuck Fucktoys gives about wherether or not I'm 100 percent on board.