Gen Z is obsessed with likes and views. They’re preoccupied with their followers — often at the expense of real relationships. Some are so fixated on cultivating their image online and giving their fans what they want that they fail to see beyond the superficial benefit of fleeting fame and the real consequences of their choices. This truth is at the heart of Infamous, a sort-of modern retelling of Bonnie and Clyde infused with, and ultimately motivated by, social media.
It would be unfair to say that Infamous, which was written and directed by Joshua Caldwell, is a simple retread of a classic story. While it does share core elements with the classic 1967 film based on the true exploits of Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow, it has a voice that is uniquely its own. That voice isn’t simply the social media element–also seen in films like Nerve – but it’s also not just the idea of a couple on the run becoming a viral sensation, like last year’s Queen & Slim. In that film, people lauded the couple for fighting back against the injustice and pain long felt by the black community. Arielle (Bella Thorne) and Dean’s (Jake Manley) followers seem to just be attracted to the excitement and voyeuristic nature of watching something they would never do themselves.
We quickly meet Arielle, a bored teen in a small Florida town with a bad home life who feels destined for fame, but isn’t sure how to obtain it. After meeting Dean, who is on parole and living with an abusive father, an instant attraction forms. Thorne absolutely kills in this role (slight pun intended). Her mannerisms, the tone of her line delivery – even when overacted – actually comes across as her personality shining through and adds authenticity.
With the same intensity in which Thorne jumps out at you, Manley keeps the story grounded with a calmer demeanor while still matching her energy when called upon. Dean seems to gradually fall in love with Arielle, but she more likely sees him and his criminal past as an exciting means to achieve her dream of leaving Florida.
Having no money and finding themselves on the run, they decide to rob a gas station. Unbeknownst to Dean, Arielle films the ordeal and posts it to an anonymous (but easily discernible) social media account that quickly garners a following that far surpasses her personal account. While Dean doesn’t approve of what she is doing, his infatuation causes him to overlook her foolish actions, and the pair set out across the country and continue to film their escalating exploits.
What begins as an obviously criminal but almost lighthearted armed robbery montage, set to the bop “Rush” by Wolf Club (who feature prominently throughout the soundtrack), it takes a dark turn once the couple is pulled over. From that point on, there is no possibility of a happy ending. Though Dean seems to feel the gravity of their situation, Arielle remains steadfast in her pursuit of fame, turning shootouts into photo ops.
The film’s unique voice comes through contrasting Arielle’s growing obsession with fame despite it causing everything to get increasingly worse and Dean caring too much for her to let her continue alone. It’s as if once she saw her follower count triple after being tagged in a fight, a switch went off in her head and nothing else mattered anymore. Any sound judgement or sense of right or wrong was gone if she felt you posed a threat to her perceived purpose.
While you initially may find fault in the way their relationship is portrayed, seemingly relying on a few typical scenes of lust and passion, cute words and a montage of their developing relationship, you would be misreading the dynamic. Other similar films play heavily into an underlying love story, but Arielle’s actions and words drive this unique and toxic pairing. There is undeniable chemistry, though, and some of the best scenes of the film come early, when the duo flirts and discuss their lives with a sweet innocence before turning down a dangerous path.
Throughout the film, you feel like you are right there with Arielle and Dean, whether you are in the car, viewing through her phone, or over their shoulders, you are never far from the action. The movie’s visual appeal, largely credited to cinematographer Eve Cohen, is incredible, using vibrant colors, cool graphics, and landscapes that give it an aesthetic fitting of a world seen through filters.
While the vast majority of the film focuses solely on the duo’s jaunt, there are two other standouts that should be mentioned: Elle and Kyle. The couple targets Elle (Amber Riley) to help them escape the police, who turns out to be a follower—exciting Arielle but confusing Dean. Amber plays Elle with careful reserve, because meeting your heroes in real life can sometimes be disappointing (especially when they are criminals). Their interaction with Elle, along with overlaid visuals of social media comments and news reports, paints the broader picture of how they are perceived by the public and what’s going on outside of their small bubble.
Michael Sirow as Kyle, despite having relatively short screen time, makes the most of it portraying a bank robber who offers the couple a chance to join him on a heist. His subtle intensity is remarkable: he’s a guy you could see yourself having a beer with, but then ultimately want to distance yourself from when he goes off the rails. His presence is a tipping point where you can clearly see that everything is about to come crashing down.
It’s impossible to watch Infamous right now without acknowledging the environment and conversation that it’s being released into — which is clearly much different than when production started. While the current climate may not be ripe for a tale of two white teens being celebrated for their crimes, the film is intended to be subjective by immersing you into this social media-fueled world to decide how you feel about them. There aren’t many redeeming moments for this couple, but that’s largely reflective of the medium that Arielle is pursuing. Maybe more than ever, people are aware of the impact and consequences (both good and bad) that they can have through social media. Infamous serves as a stylish reminder of that power.
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