Jack and Diane - Film Review

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Diane is an English teenager visiting her aunt in New York when she meets Jack, a streetwise teen who falls for her almost immediately. The two begin a relationship, but when Jack learns that Diane will be leaving the country soon she tries to push her away. Diane has other ideas, and continues to persue Jack. However, the more time they spend together, the more Diane has strange, violent visions.

Jack and Diane (2012) was directed by Bradley Rust Gray (director of The Exploding Girl). It was promoted as a "romantic horror movie", so I was expecting something a bit like Bones and All , but it leans more towards romance than horror. There are a couple of gory scenes, and a weird motif of hair growing out of flesh, but mostly it's a drama about young love.

I did not know what to make of this movie. I enjoyed watching it, but it's hard to pinpoint exactly why, so I hesitate to recommend it. I've heard it called a lesbian werewolf movie, but it's no Ginger Snaps. The plot rambles along, with tendrils that don't really go anywhere. Between that and the awkward interactions between the two girls it felt a bit like a documentary, with the filmmaker spying on a real relationship. Except for the parts with the monster that looks like something out of a Troma film. Those are... something else.

Jack and Diane stars Juno Temple (from Fargo, Horns, and the upcoming Venom: The Last Dance) as Diane, and Riley Keough (from Mad Max: Fury Road and Under the Silver Lake) as Jack. It also features a brief cameo from Kylie Minogue, who recorded a single for the soundtrack.

Jack and Diane is an odd, slow-moving, poetic lesbian romance, with a sprinkling of body horror. It's definitely different, so might be worth watching if you fancy a change of pace from more plot-driven, literal movies.

Content warning: Sexual assault. It doesn't have much to do with the plot, but it's there.




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