Advertisement

What kind of movie premieres in a strip club? Harmony Korine’s ‘Aggro Dr1ft’

People dance in a strip club.
Director Harmony Korine, second from right in mask, at the Los Angeles premiere of his “Aggro Dr1ft,” at Crazy Girls strip club in Hollywood last night.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

When “Aggro Dr1ft,” the latest provocation from auteur Harmony Korine, premiered at a string of prestigious film festivals last fall, it played at the Sala Grande in Venice, the Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto and Lincoln Center’s Walter Reade Theater in New York City.

For the Los Angeles premiere of “Aggro Dr1ft” on Wednesday night, it played at Crazy Girls, a strip club just off Sunset Boulevard.

It says something about the cracked genius of Korine’s work that it feels equally suited to a conventional theatrical setting as it does to this most unconventional of venues. Crazy Girls had five large video screens flanking one wall, angled around a stage, plus two additional screens strapped to poles and three more screens attached to the ceiling. Given the reflective surfaces that covered much of the rest of the room, it at times felt like we watching a movie from inside a disco mirror ball.

Advertisement
A film is watched on a screen.
The audience watches the Los Angeles premiere of director Harmony Korine’s experimental film, “Aggro Dr1ft,” held on many screens at Crazy Girls strip club in Hollywood.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

The event was also an immersion into the world of EDGLRD, the Miami-based multidisciplinary multimedia company that is now the home for Korine’s creative endeavors at the crossroads of film, technology and culture. Pop-up events like this one will be happening in a handful of other cities before the film eventually makes its way to a streaming platform yet to be named. There was exclusive EDGLRD merchandise for sale: skateboard decks, hats, t-shirts and sweatshirts that will only be available at these tour events.

Rockin’ and writhin’ at Crazy Girls

Filmed with thermal-vision cameras before undergoing extensive post-production treatment, “Aggro Dr1ft” has a dreamy, blissed-out feel that is jolted by spasms of violence and nightmarish intensity. To the extent the film has a story, it follows a Miami hitman (Jordi Molla) who goes about his grim business while wanting only to get back to his wife and children.

Advertisement

There will be a second event at Crazy Girls tonight. The film will also be screening three times over Friday and Saturday at the American Cinematheque’s venue in Los Feliz. (All five local screenings sold out quickly.) But holding the premiere in such a nontraditional space feels particularly apt, given the film’s underworld milieu, including scenes set in a strip club. With female servers in bikini tops making their way around the room and dancers doing their thing before and after the screening, the evening did feel like stepping into the world of the film.

“If you call it an immersive experience, it doesn’t get at the essence of the kind of party vibe we’re going for,” said Eric Kohn, head of film strategy and development at EDGLRD. “There’s something more lively and dynamic about doing something that’s not where people expect to see a movie. It’s going the extra mile and turning it into something much more than a movie.”

A stripper dances while DJ AraabMuzik played after the Los Angeles premiere of director Harmony Korine's film, "Aggro Dr1ft"
A stripper dances while DJ AraabMuzik played a set after the Los Angeles premiere of director Harmony Korine’s film “Aggro Dr1ft” at Crazy Girls in Hollywood.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
Advertisement

Ahead of the screening, one EDGLRD staffer admitted that they weren’t sure if people would actually sit for the screening or mill around the room with a more party-like vibe. But the audience, which organizers estimated to be around 400 people, was rapt in their chairs through the whole running time, never seeming to uncouple from the events onscreen.

As a winged demon onscreen exhorted a group of women to “Dance, bitches!” anxious titters rippled through the audience, viewers seemingly unsure whether to laugh. When rapper Travis Scott appeared for his brief role in the film, a few excited whoops sprung from the crowd.

One of the club’s dancers, who gave her name as Asia, sat down next to her pole as the movie began, dollar bills spilled around her, and watched the entire movie. As the credits rolled, she stood up to prepare to get back to work and resume her dancing. A curious onlooker asked her what she thought.

“It was different,” Asia said with a quizzical smile.

Strippers dance at party.
Strippers dance for attendees while director Harmony Korine, off camera, DJs a set at his Los Angeles premiere.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Folding chairs that had been set up around the room were hurriedly cleared away by staff. Soon the film’s composer, the DJ and producer known as AraabMuzik, began a set, keeping the woozy, disorienting vibes of the movie going. The audience crowded around the musician’s setup just in front of the stage, as people alternately took pictures and danced.

Korine, wearing a fluorescent mask that covered most of his head and face, made his way through the room. As people stopped him to talk or take pictures, he was eventually swallowed up by the crowd.

Advertisement

Once AraabMuzik’s set was finished, Korine came out for his own DJ set, his face covering now augmented with one of the horned 3D printed masks that he has frequently worn while promoting “Aggro Dr1ft.” He was flanked by a number of EDGLRD compatriots, who were also wearing 3D printed masks. Three women had ghostly makeup and blood-stained nightgowns, like the girl from “The Ring” gone to a rave. There were also men in distorted Halloween masks and ballcaps brandishing colorful toy guns.

A masked DJ entertains at a party.
Director Harmony Korine, second from left in mask, DJs at the premiere of his new film “Aggro Dr1ft.”
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Korine would sometimes pop onto the stage to dance along and exhort the crowd, acting as his own hype man. The music’s mix of reggaeton-influenced beats, thrash guitars, hyperpop and favela funk created a chaotic soundtrack as the dancing crowd seemed to be having a great time. As the evening wore on and the attendees began to thin, those who stayed got wilder and wilder, reaching a fever pitch for a version of Rammstein’s 1997 song “Du Hast.”

“We’re too precious about the way that we talk about how movies get out in the world,” said Kohn. “You don’t see this in the fine art world, you don’t see it in the fashion world, you don’t see it in the skateboard community — all the different industries that we’re playing in. I think there’s a lot more understanding that experimentation is key to what you do. We need more of that thinking for what this art form is.”

At one point a pair of women in tight black dresses were onstage dancing against a speaker. Judging from their confident moves, they seemed to belong there. At the back of the crowd, a member of the EDGLRD event team looked over at a Crazy Girls staffer and asked, “Are those your girls?” After assessing their grinding bodies for a moment, the employee replied, “No.” They then headed off to the side of the stage to have security get the women down.

Yet not long after, both dancers were up onstage again, where they stayed and became just another unexpected part of the party.

Advertisement
universo-virtual.com
buytrendz.net
thisforall.net
benchpressgains.com
qthzb.com
mindhunter9.com
dwjqp1.com
secure-signup.net
ahaayy.com
soxtry.com
tressesindia.com
puresybian.com
krpano-chs.com
cre8workshop.com
hdkino.org
peixun021.com
qz786.com
utahperformingartscenter.org
maw-pr.com
zaaksen.com
ypxsptbfd7.com
worldqrmconference.com
shangyuwh.com
eejssdfsdfdfjsd.com
playminecraftfreeonline.com
trekvietnamtour.com
your-business-articles.com
essaywritingservice10.com
hindusamaaj.com
joggingvideo.com
wandercoups.com
onlinenewsofindia.com
worldgraphic-team.com
bnsrz.com
wormblaster.net
tongchengchuyange0004.com
internetknowing.com
breachurch.com
peachesnginburlesque.com
dataarchitectoo.com
clientfunnelformula.com
30pps.com
cherylroll.com
ks2252.com
webmanicura.com
osostore.com
softsmob.com
sofietsshotel.com
facetorch.com
nylawyerreview.com
apapromotions.com
shareparelli.com
goeaglepointe.com
thegreenmanpubphuket.com
karotorossian.com
publicsensor.com
taiwandefence.com
epcsur.com
odskc.com
inzziln.info
leaiiln.info
cq-oa.com
dqtianshun.com
southstills.com
tvtv98.com
thewellington-hotel.com
bccaipiao.com
colectoresindustrialesgs.com
shenanddcg.com
capriartfilmfestival.com
replicabreitlingsale.com
thaiamarinnewtoncorner.com
gkmcww.com
mbnkbj.com
andrewbrennandesign.com
cod54.com
luobinzhang.com
bartoysdirect.com
taquerialoscompadresdc.com
aaoodln.info
amcckln.info
drvrnln.info
dwabmln.info
fcsjoln.info
hlonxln.info
kcmeiln.info
kplrrln.info
fatcatoons.com
91guoys.com
signupforfreehosting.com
faithfirst.net
zjyc28.com
tongchengjinyeyouyue0004.com
nhuan6.com
oldgardensflowers.com
lightupthefloor.com
bahamamamas-stjohns.com
ly2818.com
905onthebay.com
fonemenu.com
notanothermovie.com
ukrainehighclassescort.com
meincmagazine.com
av-5858.com
yallerdawg.com
donkeythemovie.com
corporatehospitalitygroup.com
boboyy88.com
miteinander-lernen.com
dannayconsulting.com
officialtomsshoesoutletstore.com
forsale-amoxil-amoxicillin.net
generictadalafil-canada.net
guitarlessonseastlondon.com
lesliesrestaurants.com
mattyno9.com
nri-homeloans.com
rtgvisas-qatar.com
salbutamolventolinonline.net
sportsinjuries.info
topsedu.xyz
xmxm7.com
x332.xyz
sportstrainingblog.com
autopartspares.com
readguy.net
soniasegreto.com
bobbygdavis.com
wedsna.com
rgkntk.com
bkkmarketplace.com
zxqcwx.com
breakupprogram.com
boxcardc.com
unblockyoutubeindonesia.com
fabulousbookmark.com
beat-the.com
guatemala-sailfishing-vacations-charters.com
magie-marketing.com
kingstonliteracy.com
guitaraffinity.com
eurelookinggoodapparel.com
howtolosecheekfat.net
marioncma.org
oliviadavismusic.com
shantelcampbellrealestate.com
shopleborn13.com
topindiafree.com
v-visitors.net
qazwsxedcokmijn.com
parabis.net
terriesandelin.com
luxuryhomme.com
studyexpanse.com
ronoom.com
djjky.com
053hh.com
originbluei.com
baucishotel.com
33kkn.com
intrinsiqresearch.com
mariaescort-kiev.com
mymaguk.com
sponsored4u.com
crimsonclass.com
bataillenavale.com
searchtile.com
ze-stribrnych-struh.com
zenithalhype.com
modalpkv.com
bouisset-lafforgue.com
useupload.com
37r.net
autoankauf-muenster.com
bantinbongda.net
bilgius.com
brabustermagazine.com
indigrow.org
miicrosofts.net
mysmiletravel.com
selinasims.com
spellcubesapp.com
usa-faction.com
snn01.com
hope-kelley.com
bancodeprofissionais.com
zjccp99.com
liturgycreator.com
weedsmj.com
majorelenco.com
colcollect.com
androidnews-jp.com
hypoallergenicdogsnames.com
dailyupdatez.com
foodphotographyreviews.com
cricutcom-setup.com
chprowebdesign.com
katyrealty-kanepa.com
tasramar.com
bilgipinari.org
four-am.com
indiarepublicday.com
inquick-enbooks.com
iracmpi.com
kakaschoenen.com
lsm99flash.com
nana1255.com
ngen-niagara.com
technwzs.com
virtualonlinecasino1345.com
wallpapertop.net
nova-click.com
abeautifulcrazylife.com
diggmobile.com
denochemexicana.com
eventhalfkg.com
medcon-taiwan.com
life-himawari.com
myriamshomes.com
nightmarevue.com
allstarsru.com
bestofthebuckeyestate.com
bestofthefirststate.com
bestwireless7.com
declarationintermittent.com
findhereall.com
jingyou888.com
lsm99deal.com
lsm99galaxy.com
moozatech.com
nuagh.com
patliyo.com
philomenamagikz.net
rckouba.net
saturnunipessoallda.com
tallahasseefrolics.com
thematurehardcore.net
totalenvironment-inthatquietearth.com
velislavakaymakanova.com
vermontenergetic.com
sizam-design.com
kakakpintar.com
begorgeouslady.com
1800birks4u.com
2wheelstogo.com
6strip4you.com
bigdata-world.net
emailandco.net
gacapal.com
jharpost.com
krishnaastro.com
lsm99credit.com
mascalzonicampani.com
sitemapxml.org
thecityslums.net
topagh.com
flairnetwebdesign.com
bangkaeair.com
beneventocoupon.com
noternet.org
oqtive.com
smilebrightrx.com
decollage-etiquette.com
1millionbestdownloads.com
7658.info
bidbass.com
devlopworldtech.com
digitalmarketingrajkot.com
fluginfo.net
naqlafshk.com
passion-decouverte.com
playsirius.com
spacceleratorintl.com
stikyballs.com
top10way.com
yokidsyogurt.com
zszyhl.com
16firthcrescent.com
abogadolaboralistamd.com
apk2wap.com
aromacremeria.com
banparacard.com
bosmanraws.com
businessproviderblog.com
caltonosa.com
calvaryrevivalchurch.org
chastenedsoulwithabrokenheart.com
cheminotsgardcevennes.com
cooksspot.com
cqxzpt.com
deesywig.com
deltacartoonmaps.com
despixelsetdeshommes.com
duocoracaobrasileiro.com
fareshopbd.com
goodpainspills.com
kobisitecdn.com
makaigoods.com
mgs1454.com
piccadillyresidences.com
radiolaondafresca.com
rubendorf.com
searchengineimprov.com
sellmyhrvahome.com
shugahouseessentials.com
sonihullquad.com
subtractkilos.com
valeriekelmansky.com
vipasdigitalmarketing.com
voolivrerj.com
zeelonggroup.com
1015southrockhill.com
10x10b.com
111-online-casinos.com
191cb.com
3665arpentunitd.com
aitesonics.com
bag-shokunin.com
brightotech.com
communication-digitale-services.com
covoakland.org
dariaprimapack.com
freefortniteaccountss.com
gatebizglobal.com
global1entertainmentnews.com
greatytene.com
hiroshiwakita.com
iktodaypk.com
jahatsakong.com
meadowbrookgolfgroup.com
newsbharati.net
platinumstudiosdesign.com
slotxogamesplay.com
strikestaruk.com
trucosdefortnite.com
ufabetrune.com
weddedtowhitmore.com
12940brycecanyonunitb.com
1311dietrichoaks.com
2monarchtraceunit303.com
601legendhill.com
850elaine.com
adieusolasomade.com
andora-ke.com
bestslotxogames.com
cannagomcallen.com
endlesslyhot.com
iestpjva.com
ouqprint.com
pwmaplefest.com
qtylmr.com
rb88betting.com
buscadogues.com
1007macfm.com
born-wild.com
growthinvests.com
promocode-casino.com
proyectogalgoargentina.com
wbthompson-art.com
whitemountainwheels.com
7thavehvl.com
developmethis.com
funkydogbowties.com
travelodgegrandjunction.com
gao-town.com
globalmarketsuite.com
blogshippo.com
hdbka.com
proboards67.com
outletonline-michaelkors.com
kalkis-research.com
thuthuatit.net
buckcash.com
hollistercanada.com
docterror.com
asadart.com
vmayke.org
erwincomputers.com
dirimart.org
okkii.com
loteriasdecehegin.com
mountanalog.com
healingtaobritain.com
ttxmonitor.com
bamthemes.com
nwordpress.com
11bolabonanza.com
avgo.top