Three Essential Indie Sleaze Films

by Catherine McDonald

What is indie sleaze? Why does it matter?

A genre defined by characteristics of "dirtbag teenagers," often troubled teens who have been left behind, misfits trying to find themselves in a fucked up world that has treated them mean. Think of kids who listen to: Nirvana, Hole, MGMT, and a bunch of other alternative bands that you shouldn't know about because they're too underground. Aesthetically, it can be defined by late 90s/early to mid-2010s indie alternative style, such as grunge y2k clothing styled with indulgence and rebellion. It also is meant to be an affordable style of dressing as a response to hard economic times throughout the 2000s. A lifestyle that often, unfortunately, consists of drug use, drinking, late-night parties, and bad mistakes. For example, the TV show Skins (2007-2013) is a perfect example of "indie sleaze." It was an indie piece of media that portrayed young teens in a sleazy way that was relatable to teens. Smudged eyeliner, partying and sex all night, and depicted mental illness and abuse in a raw and edgy way. It was criticized for being too graphic and adult, and despite being an indie production, it soon became famous for being so unabashedly indie sleaze.

Indie sleaze has made a resurgence on social media with Gen Z for a few reasons. The visual aesthetics have become trendy again for that “y2k” look, but I believe this genre and style has become popular again for what it represents. Indie sleaze media often portrays young people struggling, having become a messy product of the way the world has treated them. Is it not relatable to watch something like Skins in today’s climate with what young people are going through, to not want to project ourselves onto these characters? They’ve been treated the same and want to rebel in response.

Besides being an affordable fashion trend in today’s economy, true indie sleaze represents the misfits and the forgotten of today’s youth. To rebel against convention and, unfortunately, experience the pain of self-indulgence and representation of raw struggles such as mental illness and abuse. It represents that inner, angry teenager in us and wants to remind you. Yes, show off your anger with that tongue piercing. Numb the pain by committing some crime. Maybe romanticize it a little and experience a messy first love.

Here are 3 essential indie sleaze films to watch that have all been criticized and praised for the same reasons.

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​1. Thirteen (2003) directed by Catherine Hardwicke 

Thirteen truly represents the consequences of being thirteen and dumb and living in a rough world through the lens of that indie sleaze lifestyle. Tracy lives in a working-class family and feels estranged from her mother and ex-father. Feeling she has to grow up to cope with peer pressure and her changing world, she turns to Evie, who introduces her to stealing, drugs, sex, lying, and how to dress provocatively. She’s introduced to this world in a romanticized way, full of sleaze and eyeliner, with consequences that are all too real, portrayed in a very authentic and visually stunning way.

The fashion and romanticization of the lifestyle in Thirteen is also trendy on social media now. Is it because it’s chic? Does it tell society, “fuck you, mom?” Either way, this film and its craft in expressing girlhood are appealing and enticing to future audiences on many levels.

This film is an unapologetically raw portrayal of coming of age as a vulnerable girl who wants to grow up too fast and is taken advantage of by the wrong friends. An unconventional coming-of-age story that is, in fact, a reality for many young girls, Catherine Hardwicke, shows us the nuances and very complicated feelings of being pressured to grow up, with a heart-breaking conclusion that makes this story a mother-daughter love story. The blurry, low-frame cinematography lit by harsh, slimy fluorescent blue and green lighting captures that grunge, sleaze club aesthetic. It makes Tracie’s world disorientating and frightening, yet simultaneously, a chic and enticing blur.

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2. Mysterious Skin (2004) directed by Gregg Araki

content warning: this film is about child SA and includes depictions and scenes of graphic SA

Gregg Araki is considered to be an icon in the rise of indie queer cinema in the 90s and is mainly known for his grunge, coming-of-age, indie sleaze style. His most famous films depict American society's curiosity, rage, and degenerate downfall. Mysterious Skin is one of those films, and indie sleaze represents being stuck in the fucked up society of America and being trapped in the abuse and systems that promote our suffering.

Mysterious Skin is an extremely raw film. It’s a film that deals with child SA and what happens to two boys as they deal with the trauma. Neil grows up into that typical “dirtbag” teenager who causes trouble, dresses classically indie sleaze, and has a rowdy group of friends who also make trouble. All while he makes money being a prostitute and enjoying it. Brian grows up to believe he was abducted by aliens and searches for the truth.

Gregg Araki’s representation of his queer characters deserves to be put into the public eye. He writes these kids for who they really are. Messy, bad, unapologetic, grunge, in love, angry, and slightly hopeful. These are his characters, but these are also real people who are queer as well and deserve to see themselves in the raw, unapologetic films of Gregg Araki.

The subject matter of this film specifically is something that needs to be discussed and seen on a societal level and should be seen by future audiences to bring awareness and discussion to this kind of abuse and the trauma that follows. Gregg Araki portrays this subject matter with no reserve and shows how society and many people in their world have failed these characters, who represent very real people. He does, though, represent these young people with a slight glimmer of hope in their friendships and their bold 90s fashion that is now trendy again. He describes genuine teenagers who are lost and want to find themselves. Through wacky accessories and funky hair. In the relationships that build in the film, the love these misfits have for each other, and how they express themselves.

They’re all outcasts in some way, and through their unique outfits and connections with each other, Gregg shows that despite that it all, they’re still saying “fuck you” to the world and doing it in a beautiful, self-expressive way. His film continues to encourage so-called “outcasts” today to keep doing what they do.

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3. The Bling Ring (2013) directed by Sofia Coppola

It is based on actual events and, at the same time, a commentary on American consumerism and celebrity obsession. A more modern take, The Bling Ring represents a late 2010s version of indie sleaze, a more glamorous version and a closer representation of what indie sleaze looks like today in the age of social media.
 
Again, indie sleaze often represents the unforgiving world we live in and reflects it through the fashion and attitudes of its characters. The Bling Ring is no different and is very similar in style and content to Skins. These teenagers are bored, horny, wild, and poor, and they want to be celebrities they see and will go to any lengths to achieve that.

They want to be better than they are.

The characters are obsessed with celebrity fashion icons like Lindsay Lohan, Megan Fox and Paris Hilton. Indie sleaze, in their world, is defined by stealing to replicate this rich, party, celebrity lifestyle. They want to fulfill their fascination, be praised, and be the “it” girls at the club. They party, get drunk, and dress up, and it’s a world of Chanel, lip gloss, guns, the black market, and Myspace. Sofia Coppola accurately represents the lifestyle of modern-day consumerism influenced by peers and social media. She presents this in a cinematography style that’s fast and eye-catching. Low lighting, crazy club shots, and Myspace digital photo montages. The characters are dressed in Prada, giant sunglasses, smeared eyeliner, and shiny lip gloss. It is very representative of the late 2010s sleaze club scene, historically the last years that were considered truly indie sleaze.

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Sky Ferreira, patron saint of indie sleaze

Kaya Scodelario (Effy Stonem) of Skins

Indie sleaze is back and is being led by young people, young queer people, young women, who know that the world is a bit shit and are ready to rebel. They are prepared to party to forget, have fun, make mistakes, and see people who are just like them. Indie sleaze represents an essential part of the past and what’s in store for the future. The three very different but real stories of Thirteen, Mysterious Skin, and The Bling Ring are all crazy and weird and haunting in their own ways that future audiences will see themselves in. They may also want to replicate some exciting fashion and fun partying.

Either way, indie sleaze represents so much about the world and the young people surviving through it all, and it deserves to be resurrected onto the big screens again and seen.