PLOT: Set in a near-future society ruled by sentient A.I., a private eye investigates a murder case only to discover a rebel group capable of undermining the digital overlord. As the detective’s identity slowly unravels, his world enters a state of hypnotic meltdown.
REVIEW: Surrealist cinema isn’t going to be for everyone, as it asks the audience to throw logic out the window. As someone who is a very logical person, I actually find it sort of freeing when a film takes this approach, as it allows me to let loose in a way that other films don’t allow me to, as I’m picking them apart in more objective ways. Hot Spot is a movie that is more focused on eliciting a reaction than creating something that entirely makes sense, making for a very uneven and frustrating experience.
Hot Spot follows Private Investigator, Djonny (Konopka), as he looks into a murder case in a strange post-apocalyptic world where a sentient AI rules over everyone. It kind of reminds me of that episode of The Simpsons (which was based on an old Twilight Zone) where everyone has to tiptoe around Bart because he’s an omnipotent being who will punish them for acting out of line. That’s true here too, with the AI even exploding the heads of those who don’t behave. But when he meets a mysterious Cyber Witch (Rapace) his entire world starts to crumble as he starts to have a breakdown, questioning the world around him.
Andrzej Konopka is so captivating as Djonny that he practically pops off the screen. He has such a unique charisma, dancing around and experiencing the world like no one else. His bleached blonde hair combines with the mullet in such a glorious way that he feels like a Miami Coke dealer from the 80s. Even his wardrobe is flamboyant and out there. He behaves in such a strange way, that it just adds to the uneasiness of the world. Noomi Rapace is likely the name most people recognize from the cast, but her role is rather limited. She has a cool look that reminded me of the Fremens from Dune.
I won’t lie, I was very confused throughout my screening of Hot Spot. The narrative does not hold your hand and doesn’t even really care if you’re keeping up. In a world where Netflix is having its shows/movies repeat information to appease multi-taskers, I found it refreshing. Does it all work for me? Absolutely not. There’s a decidedly Europrean approach that my American brain wasn’t always on board for.
The world of Hot Spot is so intriguing because it’s a dystopic world that feels familiar with its Mad Max or Dune aesthetics, but is still unique enough on its own. Because it’s really all about the execution. I think that Director Agnieszka Smoczynska could take a story we’ve heard a million times before, and through her lens, would give us a film wholly unique. Which isn’t a surprise, as she proved back in 2015 with The Lure that she was more than capable of outside-the-box filmmaking.
There are times where the visuals are absolutely gorgeous, like Djonny walking amongst trees, bathed in blue light. Other times, it feels like we’re just seeing the same three locations over and over. This is sadly just something that happens when trying to tell a post-apocalyptic story with a limited budget. It got to be a bit distracting by the end as I simply wanted something new.
Hot Spot is absolutely outrageous and one of the strangest experiences I’ve had in quite some time. It’s part fever dream, part dystopic fairy tale. It’s not going to be for everyone and I’m not sure it was even for me. But, as someone who watches hundreds upon hundreds of movies a year, it’s nice to get something that goes so far outside the box. Nothing behaves how you would expect it to, throwing expectations for a loop, and allowing for a completely one of one experience. Which, in the modern era where every story has been told a million times, feels like a win.
Hot Spot is now playing in theaters!