Director Amy Wang and stars Maitreyi Ramakrishnan and Amelie Zilber dive into the mind-bending twists and cultural catharsis of their new thriller, Slanted.
Slanted is a bold cinematic experience that defies easy categorization. A masterful blend of satire, thriller, and body horror, the film follows a narrative that explores cultural identity and the weight of being seen on screen. While it begins with a grounded emotional core, it quickly spirals into a hyper-stylized world that challenges audience expectations at every turn. At the heart of the film is a shocking twist that recontextualizes the entire story, leaving viewers to grapple with deeper messages about motive and the complexities of the human experience.
Mama’s Geeky sat down with the visionary behind the lens and the stars who brought the mystery to life. We spoke with writer-director Amy Wang about the delicate balance of tone and the personal experiences that fueled the script. We were also joined by stars Maitreyi Ramakrishnan and Amelie Zilber, who shared their visceral reactions to reading the script’s massive twist and why this story feels more culturally relevant today than ever before.
Balancing Satire, Horror, and Heart
For Director Amy Wang, the greatest challenge was ensuring the film’s disparate elements – from comedy to body horror – felt like a cohesive whole. She worked closely with her cinematographer and composer to create a blended atmosphere.
“We had a one to ten kind of like, I guess, rule of, you know, what did each scene warrant? One being like very, very grounded and ten being like very hyper, like Sorry to Bother You kind of worlds. You know, so we kind of, you know, would rate each scene and figure out how do we want to photograph this and make it seem blended.” — Amy Wang
The Twist
The stars of the film were just as shocked as the audience when they first encountered the script’s pivotal reveal. Maitreyi Ramakrishnan noted that the unpredictability is exactly what drew her to the project.
“I love a movie that makes me feel dumb, you know? No, I’m serious, I’m so serious… I love when a writer, a director just pulls the rug from under me and makes me not see something coming. And I’m like, and you totally did that right on the page and how she executed it on screen.” — Maitreyi Ramakrishnan
Amelie Zilber added that the twist isn’t just for shock value; it adds a necessary layer of depth to the character’s actions.
“It made the movie for me, because it made this character a lot more complicated than you think, and it allows this character to have motive for [their] actions and the way that she treats other people.” — Amelie Zilber
Culturally Relevant & Cathartic
Beyond the thrills, Slanted incorporates specific cultural touchstones that resonated deeply with the cast and creator. Wang discussed the importance of putting her own personal experiences as an Asian American/Australian onto the screen.
“I think there’s still room for more. And in this particular instance, it’s, you know, I was able to give and to put in my personal experiences onto the screen. And that felt really cathartic.” — Amy Wang
Ramakrishnan emphasized that the timing of the film’s release only strengthens its impact.
“This is a story that really matters and it truly could not be more culturally relevant… I mean, we saw it premiere last year at South by Southwest and I’m like, well, you know what? Thank goodness it’s coming out now because it could not matter more now.” — Maitreyi Ramakrishnan
Be sure to watch the full interview for more behind-the-scenes details.
About Slanted
As a senior in high school, Joan Huang idolizes winning Prom Queen as the embodiment of popularity, beauty and the ultimate form of acceptance into American life. In her relentless pursuit for the crown, she undergoes an experimental racial transformation to become White and win Prom Queen.
However, what she thought was a dream come true soon reveals itself to be an emotional and physical nightmare. Slanted offers a searing and unapologetically satirical view on race and the uncomfortable journey of learning to love yourself and your culture.
Slanted comes to theaters on March 13th.
