HER SMELL (2019)

Starring Elisabeth Moss, Cara Delevingne, Dan Stevens

Directed by Alex Ross Perry

Distributed by Gunpowder & Sky. 134 minutes. Rated R

Picture Josie and the Pussycats laced with drugs, sweat, and glitter, and that’s only scratching the surface of what to expect from this larger-than-life indie film. Screening at the AFI Film Festival, Her Smell is a wonderfully wicked portrayal of the pressures put on a rock star to keep up her trajectory of success. Phenomenal performances coupled with creativity behind the lens makes this one blood-pumping, unforgettable film.

The all-female punk rock band Something She is at the top of their game on stage but quickly unraveling behind the scenes. Lead singer Becky Something (Elisabeth Moss) is an out of control addict who indulges in selfish and self-destructive behavior. She alienates bandmates Marielle Hell (Agyness Deyn) and Ali van der Wolff (Gayle Rankin) with her outrageous demands and makes co-parenting with her ex (Dan Stevens) nearly impossible due to her unpredictable volatility. Nearing their 15 minutes of fame, Something She doesn’t have time to waste, which becomes even more apparent when a new girl band shows up on the scene- the Akergirls. Comprised of the up and coming artists Cassie (Cara Delevigne), Dottie (Dylan Gelula), and Roxie (Ashley Benson), who look and sound like a newer Something She, Becky makes it apparently obvious, through hyperactive monologues that scale the emotional spectrum, that she will be damned if anyone tries to steal her crown.

Her Smell would be nothing without the mind-blowing performance from Elisabeth Moss. Like a coked-out version of the energizer bunny, Moss bounces around on-screen and changes personalities as if we were flipping through the channels on TV. She is clearly broken and struggling, grasping onto anything that makes her feel good in the moment. This display is mesmerizing for the audience as Becky works through all of her emotional baggage. In one of the film’s most moving scenes, Moss sits down with her daughter and plays DJ Sammy’s “Heaven” on the piano, in its entirety, in one take. Flexing her muscles as an actor and musician, this is Elisabeth Moss at her best. Supporting actors Agyness Deyn and Gayle Rankin also lend themselves to the film’s pivotal scenes.

Equal praise goes to cinematographer Sean Price Williams (Good Time), whose camera work in keeping up with Moss can only be equated to something of an Olympic sport. Such explosive performances are confined to very tight spaces throughout the whole film, but Williams creatively maneuvers throughout the scene to keep everything feeling fresh and unexpected. Composer Keegan DeWitt – a Cinemacy favorite – expands his indie film repertoire by creating a score that can best be described as a combustion of sounds. It perfectly plays to Becky’s personality without distracting from it.

Director Alex Ross Perry certainly had a vision for Her Smell, and what we have is a nuanced and niche exploration of an aging rock star. The film is only comprised of 5 scenes and 4 locations, and with a runtime of 135 minutes, that roughly equates to every scene being around 30 minutes long. These scenes, while exhausting at times, are all darkly hilarious and never dull. And because so much of the movie is go, go, go, Becky’s moments of restraint – like the piano scene – feel so much more beautiful and well-earned. Her Smell will definitely not appeal to everyone, but there is no denying the pure artistic vision associated with it will make Her Smell a captivating watch for those who are drawn. 

Opening this Friday at ArcLight Hollywood.

This review originally ran on November 14, 2018, during the AFI Film Festival