PopHorror Let's Get Scared
Imitation Girl has been one of my most anticipated films of 2017 and I couldn’t wait to finally see it. I’m a big fan of whatever Lauren Ashley Carter is in, and I was excited to see her star in something a bit different from her other films I’ve seen so far. So, did Imitation Girl live up to expectations? There are spoilers ahead, so proceed with caution.
Starring the aforementioned Lauren Ashley Carter (check out our interview with her here), and directed by Natasha Kermani, Imitation Girl follows the story of a mysterious young woman who appears in the middle of a southwestern desert. As she begins to acclimate to her new life, she realizes that she has a twin with whom she shares more than just a similar outward appearance. Natasha Kermani described the film as an exploration of the female experience, from sensuality, love and heartbreak to unwavering resilience and growing independence.
Now that we know what Imitation Girl is about, how did it hold up? To put it simply, it was phenomenal. Lauren Ashley Carter steals the show as both the Imitation and as Julianna Fox. That’s right, the two main characters in the film are played by the same person. Typically, I tend to shy away from films where one actor or actress is playing multiple characters. It seems that too often neither character shines as bright as they should. That’s not the case this time. Carter has the performance of her career in Imitation Girl, not just once, but twice.
Both characters felt so real and fleshed out, and she did a phenomenal job of bringing each of them to life. The Imitation felt so pure and good, while Julianna Fox was the opposite. She felt bitter and beaten down and disillusioned with the life she is living (Fox is a successful porn star). The emotions that each character were going through were portrayed succinctly. The wide-eyed curiosity of the Imitation felt real every time I saw Carter’s face and the struggle that Julianna Fox was going through felt realistic as well. I don’t think you could have put any other actress in this role and come out with such an incredible film.
Beyond the performance of Lauren Ashley Carter, the overall theme of the film was portrayed really well. The writing was finely tuned, as was the directing. One of the most striking scenes happens in the dying moments of the film, when Julianna and the Imitation are laying in bed, looking at each other. The Imitation is in all white, while Julianna is in all black; a human yin-yang. This film was really about the human experience, specifically the female experience. These two women had to go through so much so that they could eventually find themselves. It’s existential and powerful, and a really important lesson can be learned from the film. To be truly complete, you must find yourself.
Carter has the performance of her career in Imitation Girl, not just once, but twice.
Imitation Girl has just added to my list of great films that have been released in 2017. I keep seeing strong performances from Lauren Ashley Carter in everything she does, and this film is no exception. In fact, this is the best I’ve ever seen her. Natasha Kermani did a phenomenal job of writing and directing the film, which really allowed for the overall themes to shine brightly. I can’t recommend Imitation Girl enough, and I’m excited for others to see it when it gets a widespread release. Will you be checking out Imitation Girl when you finally get the chance? Check out the trailer below and let us know in the comments, and stay tuned for an upcoming interview with director Natasha Kermani.
