Slaxx
Directed By Elza Kephart

You may be wondering why I’m talking about a movie you’ve probably never heard of when there’s a shiny new Conjuring movie that was just released. The honest answer is, I’m on vacation right now. My vacation started before Conjuring 3 came out and is still going on as we’re nearing its second weekend in theatres. I do plan on seeing this as soon as I get back but for now, a movie that I’ve been meaning to talk about for a while is going to take the spotlight. Also, I should probably see The Conjuring 2…and rewatch The Conjuring because I remember next to nothing about it. Now that that’s all out of the way, let me tell you about the Killer Jeans movie you didn’t know you needed in your life, Slaxx.

And So It Begins.

Idealistic and naive teen Libby McClean believes she’s finally gotten her dream job when she starts her first day at the hip and socially conscious clothing store, Canadian Cotton Clothiers. After meeting her new coworkers, some way too excited to be working at a clothing store and others barely able to stay awake, a presentation from the visiting corporate head introduces their new product, Super Shapers, the latest in jean technology. When a sneaky employee decides to try a pair on before the official launch, she, unfortunately, learns the gimmick of the movies that she is in; this is a pair of killer pants. With a killer that no one would expect, it’s up to Libby and jaded coworker Shruti to stop these pants before they escape and wreak havoc on an unsuspecting world.

More Clever Than You’d Expect A Movie About Killer Jeans To Be.

It would be tempting to write off a movie whose monster is a pair of killer jeans as a campfest trying too hard to become a cult classic – like the million other ‘Killer’ movies on Amazon Prime that are painful to watch. Tempting, but wrong. Slaxx isn’t a one-note jokefest about how silly it is that a pair of pants is killing people, but actually a pretty clever satire of modern corporate practices. Canadian Cotton Clothiers clearly exists as a stand-in for the glut of new businesses that may not be the cheapest or the best, but gosh-darn it they care! I won’t reveal exactly where the corporate satire goes, but it tackles a lot of specific awful corporate policies like having to buy your own work uniform (I’ve actually had to do that, it was my first job so I didn’t know how awful that was yet.) and the sickening corporate celebrity culture that holds up jerk business people as icons of integrity, passion, and caring when really they’re just here to make money.

Great Casting, Great Writing, Great Performances.

Good satire is always a plus but for it to land properly you also need good filmmaking fundamentals, which Slaxx has in abundance. Libby and Shruti are an amazing pair of leads, their personalities playing off each other in very clever and amusing ways, and they have a lot of good comedic moments that, even if they border on cringe humor, help to lighten the tone slightly and give us a bit more character work. This isn’t just because of the writing, actresses Romane Denis and Sehar Bhojani bring believable and realistic approaches to their performances, hitting the mark as individual characters as well as representing these very different types of people who could end up working the same job.

Proving That Monsters Don’t Need To Be Visually Complicated To Be Effective.

I need to be very clear about this next point; I am in love with the killer jeans in Slaxx. Firstly the prop is just phenomenal, it leans pretty heavily in the campy direction, but once it gets going it is a strangely creepy killer. I really like that the jeans aren’t over-designed, there are a few touches here and there that cement that this is a monster and can hurt you, but it’s not an over the top transformation of an object into a monster, it’s just a pair of jeans with a disturbing backstory. Yes, there is some good gore and some funny moments with the jeans, but what I really like about them is that they fit perfectly in the satirical mold that Slaxx has set up. Slaxx doesn’t hit you over the head with this though, and if you just want a fun monster, it has that too.

An All Around Good Time That Doesn’t Overstay Its Welcome.

Aside from the main characters and the monster, Slaxx has a lot else going for it. There’s a memorable ensemble cast who’ll be familiar to anyone who has ever worked retail before, complete with the most well-executed annoying ‘influencer’ I’ve seen in a movie. The quick runtime breezes by without feeling rushed, and the clever set design makes this basically one location movie visually distinct while also hammering home a few extra bits of corporate satire. And that ending…hot damn.

The Most Fun I’ve Had With A Movie In A Long Time.

Watching Slaxx was a great experience. It seems like a schlocky gimmick movie but completely swerves and creates a clever satire of corporate culture while giving us characters we can watch onto. It tends to lean a bit more funny than scary but there is plenty of good gore if that’s what you are looking for. If you like monster movies, horror-comedies, or even satires with some edge to them, give Slaxx a chance, I think you’ll be surprised how much you like it.