Slaxx
Elza Kephart
I first heard about Slaxx when it was screened as part of the Frightfest online event last year.
It simply sounded too ridiculous to be worth it, so I chose something else to watch without another thought. But something about the film was persistent. The killer jeans kept creeping back into my consciousness with rave reviews on social media and more recently, its release on Shudder. I relented. I have a soft spot for female genre directors, so I figured it was worth a shot. And I’m so glad I did.
If you’re looking for a synopsis, all I really need to say is the film is about killer jeans. Yep. A pair of run of the mill blue jeans goes on a bloody rampage, murdering and mutilating anyone in its path. It really is as simple as that, and yet somehow Slaxx manages to sew so much more into the film – tackling current world issues in a thought provoking way whilst simultaneously managing to not take itself too seriously.
Slaxx takes place within a companies flagship store and the polished fashion brand feels eerily familiar. As toe curling as the company slogan, ‘Making a better tomorrow, today’ is – it wouldn’t feel out of place in any high street shop, and you can quickly think of a number of real world companies that unironically spew out similar mantras whilst pushing contrasting practices behind the scenes.
With society today more focused than ever on its carbon footprint and the environmental impact of consumerism, it’s hardly surprising that many brands have jumped on board – seeking opportunity to harness values to utilise as a clever marketing ploy.
Companies are shifting tac to appeal to their target demographic, focusing more on promoting their alleged core values and promoting their ethical manufacturing practices – all the while exploiting what should be a basic standard whilst paradoxically encouraging fast fashion. This fuzzy, often not true approach leads to confusing messaging – marketing campaigns that don’t even make sense – something Slaxx acutely references (gender inclusive jeans?! Were jeans really gender exclusive previously?)
Slaxx makes light of the shameful practices within the fashion industry whilst playfully highlighting the real horror that lies under the supple denim exterior. Despite my initial scepticism, I found myself really enjoying the ride – and some of the gore is actually pretty great. The first victim finds herself split in two when the jeans get tighter and tighter – something I feel like I have been close to experiencing myself post lockdown (it’s not weight gain, it’s sentient killer jeans). There’s also an odd satisfaction in seeing the vapid influencer meet her poetically appropriate end.
Whilst the jeans themselves are empty inside, Slaxx has a lot of heart.
As someone who has personally reflected on fast fashion, trying to make a conscious effort to seek out ethical and indie brands, I love that awareness is growing, with the message getting across in a crazy, bloody way.
