Assassination Nation

Every point the film wants to make has to be roared via lengthy speeches and declarations made straight down the lens. Any deeper meaning becomes lost. When the fires finally subside, there's not that much to be found in the ashes.

Gleeful... I turned to myself and went, "wow."

Here it is, the definitive movie for the Donald Trump era. Like Trump, it's crass, disturbing and devoid of subtext. Unlike him, it has style, self-awareness and a sense of humour.

Takes well-aimed potshots at the patriarchy and the expectations placed upon young women by a jaded, content-hungry culture raised on insta-porn imagery.

The messages are conveyed by a dizzying mass of violent, sexual images ... that throb to an excellent score by Ian Hultquist. Bravura shots abound.

Enough with the feminism-as-male-titillation, please.

Assassination Nation is Sam Levinson’s modern-day take on the Salem Witch Trials, and a “movie for absolutely right now” that you won’t be able to forget.

If Joker, Euphoria, Kill Bill and The Purge did the same TikTok dance, but Sam Levinson was the one who came up with the moves…yeah.

All of the central four characters deliver captivating performances.

The whole thing wants to be clever and insightful, but also radical and offensive to get your attention. It's never less than painfully obvious.