INGRID GOES WEST (2017)

2017 was a very important year for me. It was the first year I had decided to truly lean into my passion for film. It's when I began my dedication to studying, understanding, and working in film—which included keeping up with as many new releases as possible. I have a soft spot for a lot of the movies I saw that year, and that's how I discovered INGRID GOES WEST. It was one of my favorites from 2017, and I still consider it one of the most impressive social media-focused narratives ever.

I feel like social media-centered films can become “period pieces” and lose their relevance since technology, social media, and the idea of an “influencer” is continuously evolving and changing.

However, while INGRID GOES WEST certainly taps into these timely themes, it also touches on timeless dilemmas. It’s more than just a commentary on social media. Its intention isn't to be “the Instagram movie” and shove internet references down our throat, but instead focuses on interesting character stories with honest, vulnerable emotions. It uses Instagram as a tool and explores how it affects certain types of people.

In a world where we have all the information we could ever need at our fingertips, INGRID GOES WEST zeroes in on the indulgence of our worst toxic impulses; the extreme side of those negative feelings that can result from social media consumption.

INGRID GOES WEST focuses on Ingrid Thorburn’s (Aubrey Plaza) point of view. We first meet Ingrid as she crashes a wedding and sprays the bride with mace, Ingrid’s vengeance for not being invited. Later we find out that the two of them were not even friends, but Ingrid was obsessed with this woman online and only felt like the two of them had a connection. After a short stay at a psych ward, Ingrid quickly falls back into her old depressive patterns; eating junk food, letting her house grow messy, and doomscrolling the internet. She stumbles upon a magazine spread on an Instagram influencer named Taylor Sloane (Elizabeth Olsen) and, after stalking her online, Ingrid is immediately attracted to her easygoing, Boho lifestyle. Taylor’s online profile vaunts west coast beaches and sunsets, avocado toast, and an overall feeling of bliss. Ingrid impulsively decides to use inheritance money from her recently deceased mother to move to California and seek out her new object of desire. That is only the beginning of the tangled web that spirals throughout the course of INGRID GOES WEST.

For a while, Ingrid’s plan works. After exploring Taylor’s favorite California spots using her Instagram as a map, Ingrid ploys a meet-cute between the two of them by stealing Taylor’s dog. She waits for missing posters to be distributed so she can call Taylor and say she found it. This results in Ingrid and Taylor becoming close friends because of their mutual interests in all things Taylor loves. When Taylor posts a photo of the two of them together on her social media, the audience can feel Ingrid’s happiness beam through the screen. Ingrid’s dreams are threatened once Taylor’s drug addict brother (Billy Magnussen) visits town, reminding her of the lies and deceptions she’s enabled. It brings to light Taylor's own faults, that she may not have the perfect lifestyle that she represents herself to have online.

One of the big reasons why INGRID GOES WEST works so well is based on Plaza’s strengths as an actor. She’s given an opportunity to shine unlike any other time we’ve seen her before, with all her beautiful awkwardness.

Olsen is also fantastic, slipping into the film’s tone perfectly, well capturing the distinct valley girl accent. I’m still waiting for her to attach to more comedy projects since she's so good at it.

O’Shea Jackson Jr. as Ingrid’s landlord Dan Pinto also proves himself excellent. Dan is someone who’s self-aware in his coping mechanisms with his own trauma with a comical obsession for Batman, kindred to how Ingrid hyper focuses on people to feel better, but in a harmless and healthy way that Ingrid lacks. Jackson Jr. excels in his facial expressions and body language, which oftentimes speaks louder than actual words.

I love how INGRID GOES WEST doesn’t limit itself to one genre, but flows with bits of comedy, thought provoking drama, tenderness, absurdity, and even a little horror. Although dramatized, it can be easy to see yourself within these characters due to director/ co-writer Matt Spicer’s transparency on how social media is utilized in real life interactions. It prospects feelings of loneliness and the longing for approval that most people can relate to. I too have also experienced the sense of self-assurance from messages, likes, or follows I've received online. I certainly get that feeling when people read my articles or listen to my podcasts. Humans yearn for acceptance and connection. INGRID GOES WEST smartly reminds us of the dangers of relying on acknowledgement from social media and other people to feel important and fulfilled.

With all that being said, go watch INGRID GOES WEST. Sitting at just above 90 minutes, it's a quick and relatively easy watch that excellently balances its humor and darkness. It’s well worth your time not just for Aubrey Plaza fans, but for those who seek a unique and sharp character-driven story that hones its themes. It has plenty of memorable moments and quotes, which also makes for an entertaining occasional rewatch. It's probably one of the films that I’ve recommended for people to watch the most, so I guess it was only natural to write an article articulating my love for INGRID GOES WEST.

INGRID GOES WEST is currently streaming on SHOWTIME.