Ingrid Goes West

Ingrid Goes West, the 2017 black comedy-drama film, is a thought-provoking exploration of the darker side of social media obsession. The movie masterfully delves into the psychological complexities of Ingrid Thorburn, played by the remarkable Aubrey Plaza, a young woman driven to desperation and madness by her fixation on her idol, the charismatic social media influencer, Taylor Sloane. We first meet Ingrid, a socially awkward but intelligent woman who appears to be struggling with her feelings of inadequacy and loneliness. Her life is marked by emptiness and isolation, underscored by her recent break-up from her boyfriend, and her growing dependency on her mother, which leads to tension and frustration. However, everything changes when Ingrid stumbles upon Taylor's Instagram account, which offers a curated glimpse into a seemingly perfect life filled with luxury, beauty, and endless possibilities. Taylor, played by Elizabeth Olsen, is a talented and captivating social media personality with an impeccable online presence. Her feed is a meticulously crafted representation of perfection, where every moment appears joyous, and every decision seems effortlessly made. Ingrid becomes instantly enamoured with Taylor's image, feeling as though she's glimpsing a life she could never have access to in her mundane reality. As she spends more time scrolling through Taylor's feed, Ingrid becomes increasingly enthralled by her glamorous, seemingly endless adventures, lavish parties, and perfect friendships. Despite the fact that Ingrid's encounters with Taylor are limited to their online interactions, she begins to fantasize about a deep, intense friendship that's been forged in cyberspace. Convinced that Taylor needs her in her life, Ingrid decides to abandon everything she's ever known – including her family, her friends, and her job – and embark on a cross-country journey from New York to Los Angeles to meet Taylor in person. As Ingrid becomes more and more entrenched in her fantasy, she starts to exhibit worrying signs of instability, revealing a growing obsession that borders on psychosis. Her fixation on Taylor begins to take a toll on those around her, causing her loved ones concern and frustration. Ingrid's erratic behaviour escalates, leading to a series of reckless and violent outbursts that threaten to upend the people close to her. Upon arriving in Los Angeles, Ingrid tracks down Taylor's real-life address, hoping to finally forge a connection with her idol. Upon entering Taylor's world, she's met with rejection and disdain, and it becomes clear that, in reality, Taylor's life is far from the idyllic fantasy Ingrid had been portraying. Undeterred by this revelation, Ingrid continues to pursue Taylor, convinced that she's the key to unlocking her own happiness and contentment. As the story unfolds, the contrast between Ingrid's fantasy and reality becomes increasingly stark. Her delusional obsession with Taylor drives her to take increasingly drastic measures, including hacking into Taylor's social media accounts, breaking into her home, and even orchestrating a violent stunt to get Taylor's attention. These acts are marked by an increasing sense of desperation, underscoring the depth of Ingrid's crisis and the lengths to which she'll go to achieve her twisted goals. The film's central performance by Aubrey Plaza is nothing short of phenomenal. Her portrayal of Ingrid's fragile, brittle mental state is both captivating and heartbreaking, drawing us into the character's troubled world and making us care, despite the fact that her actions are frequently reprehensible. Meanwhile, Elizabeth Olsen brings a sense of charisma and authenticity to Taylor's portrayal, grounding the character in a way that makes her social media fantasy all the more convincing and sinister. Ultimately, Ingrid Goes West poses a thought-provoking commentary on the darker side of social media obsession, warning us of the dangers of idolizing and emulating the curated lives we see online. By taking Ingrid's descent into madness and exploring the psychological complexities of her fixation, the film highlights the dangers of an unfulfilling and isolated existence, which can drive people to extremes in their pursuit of happiness.