SLAMDANCE FILM FESTIVAL 2024 REVIEW! I am a huge fan of magical realism. The meeting place of reality and fantasy can develop the most fascinating and unusual stories. Such is the case with Darla in Space, the feature-length debut of co-writers/co-directors Eric Laplante and Susie Moon. The movie is about Darla (Alex E. Harris) and a magical scobey named Mother (JS Oliver). It is one of the most gonzo pieces of magical realism I’ve seen produced on an indie budget.
The setup for this madcap tale is fairly straightforward: Darla meets Mother while covering her mother’s shift at Arnot Pickens’s (Thomas Jay Ryan) office. Having spent most of its life living in a storage crate in the office, Mother desires to travel to space. Offering its ability to provide humans with mindblowing, earth-shattering orgasms, Darla and Mother enter an agreement to send Mother to space in exchange for granting the orgasms mentioned earlier. By providing this “service,” Darla intends to raise money to pay a colossal tax bill. However, Darla only has a month to raise the assessed $349,000. And so, our wild whirlwind of contract orgasmic adventures takes off.
“…send Mother to space in exchange for granting the orgasms…”
The varying reactions of the clients who engage with Mother are what really make Darla in Space a fantastic experience. Every possible human expression of joy is witnessed in a montage that will not be soon forgotten. Further, Darla and Mother’s deep and contemplative relationship provides context for how Darla’s life fell apart. When Stu (Woody Fu) enters the fray, things go pear-shaped in a delightfully unexpected turn.
Laplante and Moon are a dynamic pair of filmmakers. The heady blend of social media interactions and real-world connections made over the prospect of next-level orgasms is a brilliant idea. The petty left turns meted out in an ever-increasing cascade of ridiculous events are the work of storytellers seeking something truly original. I definitely enjoyed how Laplante and Moon present various text messages, business messages through Darla’s website, and varying televisual forms of communication.
Darla in Space is beautifully and crisply shot. While there are no visual effects to speak of, the movie establishes a wondrous sense of whimsical magic. From the orgasms to the vanishing people to Mother’s determined demands to travel to space, the sense of magic permeates every kooky scene. Its splendidly deranged misadventures are an absolute delight. Laplante and Moon have presented a vision of life that’s just a touch off-kilter and uncanny, and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. Truly, this is a once-in-a-lifetime sort of film that comes along and sits in your mind. It’s great.
"…just a touch off-kilter and uncanny..."
