Harmony Korine Drops New Florida-Made Baby Invasion on VOD

Ever since Harmony Korine started his company EDGLRD here in Miami, his output has been interesting, to say the least. Last year the director unleashed Aggro Dr1ft, a bizarre mash-up of video game and movie following an assassin (Jordi Molla) and his protégé (Travis Scott) in an apocalyptic realm of violence that looks a lot like Miami — except, of course, that everything is soaked in infrared and AI filters. The company promoted the project with a Boiler Room set by Korine during Miami Art Week, screenings in strip clubs, and a limited theatrical release at venues like O Cinema South Beach.

But Aggro Dr1ft was only the beginning. Just months after it was released, Korine premiered his next project, Baby Invasion, at the Venice Film Festival. Two days ago, EDGLRD announced plans for its official release. Alongside a special premiere screening at New York's Knockdown Center, the film(?) is live on video-on-demand services such as Apple TV and Amazon, as well as the studio's website, as of March 21 — hey, that's today!

New Times has yet to view Baby Invasion, but judging by the trailer, the project seems to be consistent with EDGLRD's ethos and aesthetic. Korine has been outspoken about Hollywood's need to emulate video games, saying movies are "no longer the dominant art form," and his latest work certainly seems to belie that line of thinking. The studio's website describes it as a "video game," although it's unclear if there's any interactivity involved beyond watching the action unfold.
The visuals, which, like Aggro Dr1ft, are AI-assisted but drop the infrared in favor of a more "realistic" cinematography style, certainly seem inspired by shooters such as Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto, with a first-person viewpoint similar to Hardcore Henry and Nickel Boys. The film is unmistakably shot in Florida; we watch a crew of baby-faced robbers assault various palm tree-studded McMansions, flinging cash into bags and toting heavy assault rifles.

Most interestingly, the music for Baby Invasion is done by none other than Burial, the legendary UK dubstep producer and electronic music composer famous for his album Untrue and a series of incredible EPs. While his music is usually morose and expressive, associated with the dark and gloomy streets of South London at night, the trailer's music is bombastic and upbeat, more consistent with rave music and '80s synthpop. The movie continues Korine's practice of working with notable electronic musicians, with Aggro Dr1ft scored by trap specialist AraabMuzik.

Critical reception of Baby Invasion has been mixed. IndieWire called it "disquieting and sickeningly compelling," while The Hollywood Reporter declared it to be "both mind-bending and mind-numbing." Alison Wilmore of Vulture reported it made her physically sick, saying, "I needed to prop myself up against a wall for a while with my eyes closed" after its Venice premiere. Considering the queasy, experimental nature of past Korine productions such as Trash Humpers, this seems par for the course for the provocative auteur.

Will Baby Invasion make you throw up? Will it blow your mind or just disappoint? Watch the film and find out for yourself.

Baby Invasion. Starring Juan Bofill, Shawn Thomas, Steven Rodriguez, Antonio Jackson, and Tej Limlas Ly. Written and directed by Harmony Korine. 80 minutes. Not rated. Available to purchase at edglrd.com for $15.