Written and directed by Kassy Gascho, desperate to climb the ranks of Bevlon, a #girlboss pyramid scheme, Sofi throws a recruitment party for a few girlfriends. When one of her guests suddenly drops dead, Sofi and her friends must decide what matters more-their friendship or their downline. Starring: Katelyn Doyle, Pooja Bhandari, Daisy Lankstead, Selena Goosney, Heather Ngo and Alexandra Bell.

One of the standout elements of #BOSSBABE is how Kassy Gascho plays around with mixing different decades, with the story revolving around the modern makeup influencer type but there’s a huge dose of 90s MTV type nostalgia, as well as mixing a 1970s or 1980s style Avon lady theme to its story. All those influences mean that the aesthetic is jam packed with colour, it has a penchant for the bright and neon which is fun to watch. As well as having costumes with an ultra-modern style, pushing a fashion forward and materialistic edge.

It presents a more low-key cult feel, it nicely interprets how easily people are drawn in today by the potential for following and fame, while having little thought to the consequences or strings attached. As #BOSSBABE moves forward you get great waves of the different cinematic influences, particularly Heathers and The Craft. The only thing missing with its visual is a sharper edge from the cinematography, it doesn’t feel as intentionally nostalgic, rather that it’s lacking a more dramatic feel to lean into the exaggerated tone of the film.

Whereas the performances from everyone involved perfectly lean into that air of melodrama. They all present very perky personalities with an underlying competitiveness, jealousy and selfishness. They do a great job of delving through the different topics at play: greed, vanity and popularity contests, while holding onto that multi-generational feel. Creating characters that could quite happily fit in anywhere between 1980 and today.

#BOSSBABE is bursting with colour, throwing out satisfying nods to classic female-led pieces of cinema and has a great playful side. The only thing letting it down is not taking more risks with the direction and cinematography to grasp its devious and dark side with both hands. It works well on its own and the cast all build a fun, slightly sadistic, atmosphere but there was room to expand and sharpen, to pack an even bigger punch than its already big energy.

Verdict: ✯✯✯½ | 7/10

Screened as part of Fantasia Fest 2023