Los Angeles, CA (The Hollywood Times) 03/16/2026
I attended the premiere of the long-awaited film Slanted in Century City on March 12, 2026. The movie is written and directed by Amy Wang and stars Shirley Chen, McKenna Grace (known from The Handmaid’s Tale), Amelie Zilber (Grown-ish), Vivian Wu, and Fang Du.
Slanted is a unique blend of teen comedy, body horror, and science fiction. The story centers around Joan Huang, portrayed by Shirley Chen and later by McKenna Grace. The twist in the film is that two actresses play Joan, and the reasons behind this are quite intriguing. She undergoes a medical procedure to become white, with the hope of being crowned prom queen. It shares some themes with Queen Bees and Wannabes, but with a darker and more humorous exploration of race and the pressures to assimilate into white culture.
Joan Huang is an immigrant from China, and like many aspiring popular girls at school, she admires and idolizes the popular girls. She closely follows Olivia Hammond, played by Amelie Zilber, on social media. When Olivia announces in a livestream that she will not pursue the title of prom queen, it sparks a turning point for Joan. Attending a prom at the school where her father worked as a janitor has always been a dream for her.
Joan begins her transformation by bleaching her hair, which quickly draws the attention of the popular girls. However, this initial change isn’t enough for her. She continues to receive messages from an app developer who targets her for using a filter that makes her appear more Anglo. Ultimately, she decides to visit their facility to undergo the procedure to make herself white.
The film is fun, witty, and incredibly creative. It shines a humorous light on current issues in America and offers insightful commentary on the dynamics of assimilation into American culture. Slanted is currently in theaters, and I strongly urge everyone to watch it.
