This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the work being covered here wouldn’t exist.
Perpetrator is about a teen girl who becomes wild and out of control. In her latest film, writer-director Jennifer Reeder (V/H/S/94) revisits how women have been portrayed in society . Youth and beauty take precedence in today’s culture (just look at Instagram). Reeder has been tackling the issue for years, but her newest release may be the most impactful.
Jony Baptiste (Kiah McKirnan, The Adults) has been sent to live with her estranged Aunt Hilde (Alicia Silverstone, Clueless). On her 18th birthday, she goes through a radical metamorphosis. When several girls go missing at her school, she uses her new powers to try to find the person responsible.
Reeder has crafted a clever story that pays homage to genre movies of the past. Along with its use of genre tropes, Perpetrator features a number of fun callbacks. Things never feel derivative or stale, however. Instead, Reeder is calling out the tendency to objectify, sexualize, and marginalize you women.
There has always been a humor to Reeder’s writing that is cynical, jaded, and a little corny. This is especially important in Perpetrator since the subject matter can get pretty dark. Body horror and sinister threats are just a part of the terror audiences are subjected to. The script expertly mixes the two and nothing ever feels out of place or forced.
Perpetrator also boasts strong performances. Silverstone makes a lasting impression with the time she is given. Her recent genre output has seen some of the most interesting performances of her career and this is no exception. Baptiste holds her own as the rebellious Jony. She is unafraid to do what she wants to in order to get by. Her search is a natural progression of the character.
From some it will end up being a sensory overload. From black comedy to grotesque imagery, Perpetrator throws a lot at the viewer. Add in a coming of age narrative along with Jony’s sexual awakening and it can be a lot. Reeder is able to bring it all together with a smart script that is funny and scary.
Perpetrator opens in select theaters and comes to Shudder September 1
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