Baby Invasion really isn’t a movie you watch. It’s an experience you subject your eyes and brain to for 80 minutes. Baby Invasion is a commentary of the “darker” edges of society. A commentary on casual participation in violent acts. A commentary on the blurred lines between video games and real life.

I’m gonna be honest with you. I struggle to write this very review you’re reading. Not because I have complex feelings or intricate analysis about Baby Invasion or anything. No, I struggle to write this review because I think I can barely classify it as a film? It’s at once the most baffling and fascinating piece of media I’ve seen in a while and overall I think I loved it but can’t really recommend it to anyone.

Let’s rewind for a second. What even is Baby Invasion? The latest film from writer/director Harmony Korine (Gummo, Spring Breakers) follows gamers as they play “Baby Invaders”, a dark web video game that allows players to take part in simulated home invasions of wealthy mansions. Presented to the audience as a livestream of a first-person shooter much like the ones you would on Twitch, the film even features a fake viewer chat overlayed on top of the action allowing the audience to read various reactions and responses. The game also replaces the faces of all the players with photos of babies to conceal their identities.

…and that’s kinda it. For 80 minutes. No I’m not kidding.

See that’s where I struggle in this review. For all intents and purposes, Baby Invasion isn’t a movie. Korine himself has described the film as less a traditional film and more of a “visual experience” and yeah, I see what he means. 

Baby Invasion is a collection of scenes featuring various unknown characters committing acts of violence while a techno soundtrack by Burial blasts at full volume over the speakers and an ASMR voice actress narrates a tale of a rabbit getting lost in the hole. There’s no narrative, no characters, no hope. Watching Baby Invasion at times feels like staring in the abyss watching society crumble around you in real time. It feels icky. It’s filled with garish visuals that feel like an assault of the senses. Certain scenes are filled to the brim with use of AI visuals, and there’s no cohesion to what you’ll get out of the experience.

That’s what I sort of loved about Baby Invasion too?

Baby Invasion feels like a commentary on the counterculture. The people looking up gory death videos online, ripping bongs, and blasting $uicideboy$. The counterculture that people claim is causing the downfall of western civilization when in actuality they want to just play Grand Theft Auto V and hit their vape constantly. Either that or it could all be seen as an excuse to get Burial to do a sick as hell new album. Who knows at this point?

Much like Aggro Dr1ft before it, Baby Invasion really isn’t a movie you watch. It’s an experience you subject your eyes and brain to for 80 minutes. I’m sure people will easily write it off entirely and heck, I honestly wouldn’t blame you. Baby Invasion is a commentary of the “darker” edges of society. A commentary on casual participation in violent acts. A commentary on the blurred lines between video games and real life.

Baby Invasion is a lot of things. But a movie, it is not. Baby Invasion is an experience. One where your mileage is really going to vary. I love it personally but I’m going to have one hell of a time recommending this one to people. You’ve been warned. 

Grade: C

Oscar Prospects:
Likely: None
Should be Considered: None

Release Date: TBD