Slash/Back (2022)

November 10, 2022 6:26 AM

(TRAILER) The sleepy village of Pangnirtung, Nunavut, nestled in the majestic mountains of Baffin Island in the Arctic Ocean wakes up to a typical summer day. No school, no cool boys (well... except one), and 24-hour sunlight. But for Maika and her ragtag friends, the usual summer is not in the cards when they discover an alien invasion threatening their hometown. These teenagers have been underestimated their whole lives but, using makeshift weapons and what they've learned from the movies, they show the aliens you don't fuck with the girls from Pang.

Starring Tasiana Shirley, Alexis Wolfe, Nalajoss Ellsworth, Chelsea Prusky, Frankie Vincent-Wolfe, Shaun Benson.

Directed by Nyla Innuksuk in her feature debut from a screenplay by Innuksuk and Ryan Cava.

93% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.

Already available for digital rental in the US on all the usual outlets and coming to Shudder, next Friday, November 18th. JustWatch listing.

Presented as part of roolya_boolya's sponsored theme day, in which I'll be posting six movies with an Arctic/life in the polar circle/snowy theme. Donate $20 to MeFi and I'll post six movies on the theme of your choice, too!

posted by DirtyOldTown (7 comments total)

This one is sort of a cheat, as it checks all the boxes except the actual snow. But it's as Arctic life as it gets, even if it is a sci-fi comedy that sort of works likes a Nunavut version of Attack the Block.

But how could a person not be excited to see this?
posted by DirtyOldTown at 7:16 AM on November 10, 2022 [3 favorites]

This sounds amazing!
posted by Lawn Beaver at 10:00 AM on November 10, 2022

This one is fun, though I wouldn't really call it a comedy, personally, though it has funny parts. I think of it basically as a YA John Carpenter's The Thing with some elements from Attack the Block. However, it isn't solely a horror - it does deal with the conflicts between living in community and leaving, problems of living in a very remote community, institutional racism from southern institutions, and Inuit and First Nations land rights. You really get a great sense of place with this film as it is shot on location in Nunavut. Often the best parts are the conflicts with the girls over what it means to be Inuit. Its gloopy and people die and turn into rubbery zombies but a tween could likely watch this (and should).
posted by Ashwagandha at 9:06 AM on November 14, 2022 [1 favorite]

!!!!!!!!
posted by rrrrrrrrrt at 7:36 AM on November 16, 2022

Thai is so much fun. Watched it with the family last night and it was delightful to all.

The girls' characters are so well-observed.

And the loose skin effect was a clever way of making something scary on a low budget.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 1:21 PM on November 19, 2022

"This" not "Thai." Jeezus, autocorrect.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 3:08 PM on November 19, 2022

Thanks again DOT! I enjoyed this a lot.

It starts a little slow, and the pacing ... is conducive to comedy and tension.

Feels authentic, because it is.

Not because they're both Inuk/ First Nations, but this reminded me of Blood Quantum in terms of pacing, but definitely not in the use of idiot ball. Much more intimate and real than conventional non-indie movies.

The kids willing to attempt to killattack an (even alien-ified) racist cop is baller and so satisfying. Also, the ulu used to hamstring the puppet.

Absolutely loved the face markings during the glam walk.

The landscape. Oh my the raw landscape.

"Can we go back to hunting blood sucking aliens?"
posted by porpoise at 7:39 PM on September 20, 2023