JAWLINE (2019)
Starring Austyn Tester, Michael Weist
Directed by Liza Mandelup
Distributed by Hulu. 99 minutes. Now streaming on Hulu.
In today’s very real and very bizarre social economy, social media “followers” are a source of currency and an “influencer” is a profession. My first introduced to Instagram was in my early twenties, barely post-college and dating a guy who was obsessed with popularity (surprise: the relationship didn’t last long). My initial impression of Instagram – an app driven by attention-seeking individuals who crave the envy of others – hasn’t changed much in the 7 years since I created my first username, in fact, things have only amplified since then. In director Liza Mandelup’s engrossing documentary, Jawline, she explores the extreme highs and lows of internet fame through the eyes of a 16-year-old boy whose only ambition in life is to be “internet famous.”
Austyn Tester isn’t a household name to most, but to his tens of thousands of online fans, he is a celebrity crush. His room is covered in “I Love Austyn” posters sent to him from teenage girls across the country, giving him hope that a more exciting and prosperous life outside of his hometown in rural Kingsport, Tennessee is very possible. Austyn is a cute kid, there’s no denying that. His southern drawl and boyish good looks are the initial hooks, but it is his continual message of positivity and love he shares with his followers that sets him apart from his competition (other teenage boys with newly formed abs and side-swept bangs).
Navigating the online ecosystem IRL proves much more difficult for Austyn than he anticipated. He joins his first Influencer tour which is supposed to be his “made it” moment, but struggles amid issues with low follower growth and confusing contract negotiations as well as the potentially sketchy talent manager, Michael Weist. Jawline doesn’t judge Austyn for his wide-eyed ambitions. Mandelup delicately documents his quest for fame without drumming up additional drama for the film’s sake, and this patience gives the film its bittersweet authenticity. You root for Austyn throughout the film, it’s impossible not to, even though you know full well that his road to stardom is nearly impossible.
Jawline should be required viewing for parents with young children who are growing up in this social media dystopia; may it serve as a cautionary tale for those who crave internet fame, as well as those who obsess over these internet “celebrities.” Liza Mandelup set out to make Jawline as a documentary, and it’s an eye-opening one, but I’d also classify it as a horror film.
