I'm going to be honest here.
This film is pretty dumb.
But, while it comes off as random, with a creature whose existence is never explicitly explained.
Kahn admittedly does a competent job providing explanations for the unexplained aspects of the film via subtext.
You just need to wade through the ick, in order to get there...and, well, get what the film is about.
Because we are the ick.
The ick- an invasive alien plant creature that becomes more malevolent, the more it's exposed to modern humanity- is a manifestation of the worst aspects of human nature...our most cringe qualities (think of it kind of like when AI when is exposed to the internet).
Hence why the only people immune to it are those who have been humbled by life.
Take the two main characters, for example.
Both of whom had it all in highschool, only to lose it all in their transition to adulthood, when life gave them a reality check.
The protagonist of the story, having been the highschool quarterback, whose life- after being slated for the NFL- gets upended when he suffers a career ending injury (brought on by the ick) in his final game before going off to college.
And our protaganess (the most divine beauty to ever grace the silver screen), when, despite being the most popular girl in school, isn't able to get into the university of her dreams.
Though, also her best friend (and the boy she likes), who are just kind-hearted nerds in the form of a tortured artist and the smartest girl in school.
The latter being characters that are contrasted by the guy who seems to be, at least, semi-autobiographically based on the director, himself.
Though, not necessarily in a realistic sense.
Rather, how he had fantasized his life could have gone (ie gets rich, and marries the hottest girl in school...even though that, inevitably, leads to his downfall).
On top of that, Kahn clearly incorporates many of his own coming of age influences into the film, as well.
Not only in the form of a large collection of 2000's era music.
But also via other cultural influences.
Like how the main character comes off as a dollar store (read: satirized) version of Bruce Campbell as Ash in Evil Dead (right down to his iconic blue shirt).
And the one young man who is clearly fashioned after Jason Mewes when he plays Jay in the Kevin Smith films.
All in all, the whole thing is akin to a faster paced, horrorified, version of a teenage high school comedy.
Kind of it like a high octane John Hughes film, with more of an Idiocracy vibe.
Hence why I say it's a "dumb" film, despite the interesting easter eggs that are strewn throughout it.
Many of which, apparently, harken back to his earlier films.
The highlight of it all, though, is clearly our young protagoness.
She is, quite literally, a Goddess so divine, she put's Aphrodite to shame (and goddamn did she ever look good at the TIFF Q&A...the epitome of perfection).
And a great actress to boot.
But, did I love the film...well, no.
Not exactly.
It was farrrrrr too reliant upon CGI effects for my personal taste.
But it had it's moments.
As an Evil Dead fanatic, I particularly appreciated the influence he took from that series.
And I've got to give him credit for casting the right actress for the main role.
But it isn't enough to save the film from how dumb it really is.
Though...perhaps that was what he was going for.
3 out of 10.
