A24’s “Y2K” screened at Lucas Theater
Written by Ky Tanella. Photo courtesy of A24.
★★★★☆
A24’s highly-anticipated film “Y2K” screened at the Lucas Theater on October 28. The film is a slasher-esque comedy horror, that takes place on New Years Eve in 1999, and follows a group of high schoolers as they navigate a sudden computerized apocalypse, and attempt to avoid death and “enslavement” to an intimidating hive mind.
First-time director and long-time comedy writer Kyle Mooney, and co-writer Evan Winter arrived to both introduce the film, and stayed for an insightful Q&A after the screening.
In the late 90s, the “Y2k theory” or the “millennium bug theory,” caused widespread panic. The idea that computers would have difficulties storing and separating calendar data when the year switched to 2000. The film takes that theory and completely flips it on its head – detailing the “bug” as a murderous AI overlord that caused any and all technology (from blenders to camcorders) to be out for both the blood and enslavement of humans. This is a trope within a trope if you will.
The actual plot follows Eli (played by Jaeden Martell) and Danny (Julian Dennison), who are two teenage outcasts who decide to head to a New Year’s Eve party thrown by the popular kids. There, Danny tries to get Eli with Laura (Rachel Zegler), his long-time crush and “nice” popular girl who also happens to be a tech genius. It’s impossible to keep up with the tropes here!
Although it sounds trope-y and corny, that’s the entire point The film has a genuine earnestness to it and a clear love for both the genre and the time period, despite its heavy-hitting satire and clear nostalgia bait. It has all the 90s tropes packed into 93 minutes. From insanely iconic needle drops to the introduction of different “cliques,” to hormonal teenage boys who have to get “laid” before the new year and even the slow-motion-love-song-woman-walking-complete-with-a-yearning-teen-male-staring-at-her. I may be biased, but this is right in my niche. This was an absolute dream to watch, especially with such a palpably excited audience. I’m so inspired and grateful that creative movies like these are still being made and are getting made right.
Both Mooney and Winter seemed extremely proud and excited to have made this movie, they’ve been dreaming about it since New Years Day, 2019. Mooney was a fan-favorite SNL cast member for nearly a decade, and wrote/starred in his film “Brigsby Bear.” Both men had very inspiring things to say about writing, including coming to terms with holding yourself accountable with both solo and collaborative writing.
Overall, this movie was just a great time. Did it have anything too deep to say? No. But I’m so happy that fun movies are coming back in a big way, and it was an excellent way to end a long, busy Film Fest day. I highly recommend it!
