In too-timid Asian American assimilation horror ‘Slanted,’ something’s not quite white

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In the darkly satirical sci-fi horror film “Slanted,” a Chinese American teenager makes a dangerous deal to fit in. Driven by the pressures of fashion, social media, and society, she wants to change her appearance to become white – and a mysterious cosmetic company offers her a way to do just that. But this extreme makeover comes with a permanent, irreversible consequence – far more serious than even a permanent eyebrow treatment.

While the film features some moments of intense imagery, Amy Wang’s award-winning horror film doesn’t quite deliver the emotional impact it promises. However, it’s commendable that this first-time director takes a bold risk: the film centers around two actresses – one Asian and one white – portraying the same character, creating the illusion of a single, conflicted young woman inhabiting two different bodies.

I was really drawn into “Slanted” from the very beginning. It starts with young Joan Huang, played by Kristen Cui, moving from China to a pretty privileged part of Georgia with her parents. Her dad’s a musician who now works as a janitor, and her mom is super practical. The film shows how tough it is for her right away – she faces racism at school on her first day, but then sees the prom queen crowned that same night, and it just seems like everything she wants. Fast forward almost ten years, and Joan, brilliantly played by Shirley Chen, is really struggling with her identity – wanting to hold onto her Chinese heritage but also desperately wanting to fit in as an American. She becomes obsessed with winning prom queen, seeing it as the key to finally being accepted. Then this strange company, Ethnos Inc., offers her a surgery that promises to make her happier and, frankly, whiter. Joan jumps at the chance, hoping it will change her into someone like Mckenna Grace’s character. It’s a really compelling setup and explores some heavy themes.

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Ethnos is essentially a horrifying medical spa, but one that’s surprisingly good at attracting customers. The science behind its procedures isn’t important – the movie doesn’t bother explaining it. The spa features glowing reviews from people who claim the treatments have boosted their careers and romantic lives, suggesting that changing your race is a quick path to success – as long as you end up with white skin.

“Slanted” brings to mind films like “Get Out” and “The Substance,” and even a bit of “Carrie,” but its emotional core is most similar to “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.” The film explores the idea that getting what you want isn’t always a good thing. When Dr. Singer offers Joan a solution to the struggles of being a person of color in America – essentially suggesting she change her appearance (“If you can’t beat them, become them”) – it’s a concept similar to George S. Schuyler’s 1931 novel “Black No More,” which tells the story of a man who scientifically alters his skin color to become white.

Seeing Joan deal with rude comments while cleaning for a wealthy white woman, or watching her try to change her appearance to fit Western beauty standards, makes you want to tell her she’ll eventually feel comfortable in her own skin. Thankfully, her supportive best friend, Brindha (played brilliantly by Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, though her screen time is too short), shows her what self-love and a strong community can look like.

For Joan, changing her identity is a way to fit in and prove herself. Now going by “Jo Hunt” and portrayed by Grace, she goes back to school and finds that the popular kids who once ignored her now welcome her. She tries to win over Olivia, a famous influencer she’s always admired, hoping to finally achieve her dream of going to prom. But as her lies grow, her fake appearance starts to fall apart at the worst possible times.

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The success of the film “Slanted” relies on viewers believing Joan remains the same person even after Chen passes the role to Grace halfway through. The two actors share the lead character flawlessly, much like John Travolta and Nicolas Cage in “Face/Off.” Chen portrays Joan as initially naive and desperately worried, while Grace embodies a heavier, more ashamed version of the character, creating a particularly powerful dynamic with Du and Wu – all three actors deliver strong performances. Grace also includes some Mandarin dialogue in her scenes.

Drawing on the author’s experiences as a Chinese Australian, “Slanted” powerfully captures the subtle insults, body image issues, and longing for acceptance that many face when growing up as someone who doesn’t quite fit in. It gives a raw and specific voice to those with multicultural backgrounds. (If you’re interested in this topic, check out the “Asian Enough” podcast I co-hosted with the L.A. Times.) However, the film sometimes relies on familiar tropes about immigrant life, like embarrassing lunches or family conflict, and doesn’t fully explore the emotional weight of the main character’s regrets – focusing more on what led her to want a different appearance in the first place.

Wang briefly shows us a more extreme version of America, imagining Starbucks rebranded as “Freedom Beans,” Whole Foods as “AR-15 Foods Market,” and billboards featuring idealized images promoting fast food and beer. These ideas feel underdeveloped and don’t quite connect to the main character’s journey. The result is a disturbing but ultimately thin exploration of identity, leaving us unclear about its central point.

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2026-03-13 22:01