<b>INT. HOLIDAY HORRORS - NIGHT</b>
<i>Tara, Em</i> and <i>Skye</i> have all come to the party, and party HARD. The story consists of these three friends on holiday that are down to fuck; <i>Tara</i>, in particular, will be her first time. This coming-of-age story is entirely a downer, but with some of the most exciting dance and party scenes with music that goes hard, it's impossible to look away.
With <i>Em</i> and <i>Skye</i>, <i>Tara</i> has an Angel and Devil on her shoulders telling her what to do, think and feel. <i>Badger</i>, her love interest, starts as a rave-head looking to bang but grows into a compassionate friend amongst these horny young adults.
Hats off to the performances of <i>Tara</i> <b>Mia McKenna-Bruce</b> and <i>Badger</i> <b>Shaun Thomas</b> and the wicked soundtrack.
<b>FADE OUT.</b>
I think any parent of a late-teenage child will be mortified at what goes on when three girls head off to Heraklion in search of sun, sea and sex. They arrive full of beans - determined too have a good time and to get laid. We quickly learn that "Tara" (Mia McKenna-Bruce) has yet to experience that, and she is keen to tick that particular event from her bucket list. Together with pals "Skye" (Lara Peake) and "Em" (Enva Lewis) they hook up with the folks whose balcony is next door. "Tara" takes a bit of a shine to tattooed, van driver, "Badger" (Shaun Thomas) who is there with his friends "Paddy" (Samuel Bottomley) and "Paige" (Laura Ambler). It's on their third night that the film stops being a video-diary of hedonistic behaviour as her friend "Badger" gets blown away by a poolside experience and she finds herself on her own, then on the beach with... What now ensues begin the elements that provides the crux of the point of the film. When is what we want not what we want, when does yes not really mean yes - or it means yes because you just want to get something over with, or yes because you are just curious, or yes because you are too stoked up to think anything through - and are in the arms of a charismatic person? This isn't a violent film in any graphic sense, but it does have quite an emotionally potent impact for a while as the very much on-form McKenna-Bruce juggles her outward, bouncy and lively persona, with a young woman who is still very much growing up - and vulnerable. I didn't love the last twenty minutes - they robbed the film of the much of the ambiguity that hitherto had made it poignant and a talking point. At this point the behaviour becomes just plain wrong and odious - before they all head home. This is a story about a girl, but it could just as easily be about a boy - under self and peer imposed pressures to perform/conform unaware of the longer-term consequences of sand getting everywhere. Snag for me is that the film is just too much of a fly-on-the-wall documentary for the most part. We have to wait too long before the story starts to make it's point effectively, and then I think it rather rushes and compromises the message. It's still worth a watch, though - and McKenna-Bruce is very confident and impressive.
Manuel São Bento
11/27/2023
FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://fandomwire.com/how-to-have-sex-review-a-thought-provoking-debut/
"How to Have Sex lives up to high expectations, offering a thought-provoking exploration of consent, societal complicity with rape, and adolescent struggles.
Mia McKenna-Bruce's breakthrough performance authentically captures the protagonist's profound transformation as Molly Manning Walker boldly leaves pivotal conversations unspoken, mirroring society's avoidance of uncomfortable truths. Technically impressive, the haunting sound mixing enhances the narrative complexity, seamlessly fitting the thematic atmosphere.
An urgent call to viewers to reflect on their own behaviors or lack thereof."
Rating: B+
Classic American Pie setup of a bunch of youngsters on a mission to lose their virginity, except set in reality where the drug and alcohol fueled antics of people whose brains are still developing is more horrific than comedic. Well acted and believable characters, but I just didn't find it all that compelling. Maybe because the plot points are all too common, both in film and reality.
