Slaxx

Slaxx is a unique 2020 comedy horror film that combines retail satire, fashion industry commentary, and supernatural elements all in one. The movie is directed by Elza Kephart and stars Romane Denis, Brett Donahue, and Sehar Bhojani in significant roles. Produced by Shaked Berenson and Patricia Gomez Zlatar, Slaxx blends an absurdly humorous premise with dark satirical undertones, injecting some fresh blood into the comedy-horror genre.

The film is centered around the character of Libby (played by Romane Denis), an idealistic young woman who starts her new job at CCC, an ultra-trendy clothing retailer. CCC is depicted as a caricature of the contemporary high-street fashion chain stores, complete with hyper-enthusiastic employees, an insincere corporate ethos of social responsibility, and a fanatic dedication to the debut of the company's product - the Super Shaper jeans.

These jeans, known as Slaxx, are touted to be a revolutionary product, using 'smart technology' to mold the fabric to each wearer's unique body shape, thus promising the perfect fit to everyone. The excitement around this product is heightened by a strict policy preventing early sale or preview to anyone outside the official product launch.

The narrative starts going haywire when the store is preparing for the launch and the workers decide to spend the night inside the store. With a mandatory all-night shift imposed by the store management to prepare for the overnight launch of the Slaxx, the story delves into the surreal with menacingly hilarious yet fraught adventures.

In the movie, the depiction of the Slaxx jeans takes a dramatic and downright frightening turn. Whereas initially, the jeans are simply a symbol of the fashion industry's incessant drive for innovation and profit, they transform into an inexplicably sentient and malevolent entity with a deadly agenda. What follows is a night of terror, as the possessed pair of jeans begins to rampage through the store, leading to a nightmarish lockdown scenario for the characters who are trapped inside.

Romane Denis delivers a standout performance as Libby. From her initial excitement and optimism about her dream job, to her slow dawning realization of something deeply wrong at the heart of CCC, and the deadly jeopardy that herself and her fellow workers are in, Denis ably portrays Libby's evolution throughout the story. Brett Donahue excels as the obsequious store manager, while Sehar Bhojani garners laughs as the relentless corporate devotee.

The film uses this outlandish premise to weave a sharp critique of the fashion industry’s practices, specifically fast fashion. The seemingly innocuous pair of jeans becomes an object of horror, emblematic of the consequences resulting from unethical labour practices and the thoughtless consumerism promoted by the industry. The slender budget of the film doesn’t restrict its storytelling ambition, and Slaxx manages to present a strong message about responsible consumerism and capitalism, even as it dishes out the laughs and scares in equal measure.

In addition to its satirical elements, Slaxx also has a distinctly atmospheric quality, particularly in its depiction of the clean, sterile store closing down for the night and becoming a haunted playground. Even with the mayhem unleashed by the sentient jeans, there are plenty of laughs to mitigate the tension, demonstrating the filmmakers' understanding of combining the horror and comedy genres perfectly.

From its funky concept to the brilliant execution, Slaxx might just be the killer jeans movie you never knew you needed. It takes an unbelievable premise and runs with it, delivering a film that's as hilarious as it is horrifying, and surprisingly thoughtful to boot. Built upon an absurd foundation, Slaxx strikingly manages to convey a profound commentary on our collective obsession with fast fashion, while still providing plenty of horrifying yet humorous moments to keep audiences on their toes. If you're a fan of offbeat horror, it's certainly a film to add to your must-watch list.