I’m just going to say it again… but Spring Breakers is one of the best films of the decade and probably the most misunderstood film. The people who say the plot was shit, no character development, clearly missed the director’s intentions. The intention was to make a critique on the superficiality of Pop culture and generation Y.
Harmony recruited ex Disney stars Selena Gomez, Vanessa Hudgens, and Pretty Little Liars star Ashley Benson. This speaks volumes on how he is going to market this movie and make sure that the intended audience sees it. When I watched Spring Breakers on theatres, i saw people including teens who looked young walk out. There were even old people lol.. like when they walked in, i already had an idea on who will walk out. Alot though thought it was shitty because they expected something like Project X or American Pie. There wasn’t meant to be a “film plot” because the story was being told in the most realistic way possible. In real life, you don’t get a plot. 4 university students, each having different core personalities, going on Spring Break. Anything can happen but don’t expect that you’ll get movie-worthy or textpost worthy events to happen at that span. Life doesn’t work that way. The dialogue in the film is meant to evoke an emotion, it wasn’t coherent because it was only used as a setting device. You watch Spring Breakers to appreciate the neon and vivid lighting, the montage of scenes, or the cinematography because it is incredibly shot. It is not your conventional movie, it’s an art house movie.
The dialogue that was being echoed like “Sprraaang break forever”, and Britney talking to her grandma on the telephone monologue, it’s a reflection on the youth’s emotions toward Spring Break. The dialogue was meant to be repetitive and full of profanity because it’s a hyperbole. In Pop culture, partying, debauchery, sex, and even violence are glamorized. And alot of times, we dont even notice these messages because they can be subtle. Spring Breakers shoved it in our faces that this is the kind of shit being thrown at us and we thrive in it. It even highlights the privilege of white upper class/middle class who peek into or appropriate another culture during Spring Break (ex. Coachella) and leave whenever and end up hammered but still live their privileges. And also the fact one member leaves and feels uneasy is the minority of groups like this. But often times, these teens just go do whatever they want carefree. Hip Hop and Dubstep/EDM were used in the film’s score because these two are popular genres in a Spring Break party setting. Contrary to popular belief, Pop music isn’t what is usually played. But yes, those two genres mentioned are still part of Pop culture.
The film also gave a nod at Britney Spears because it targets us, the 90s kids, the youth who grew up listening to Britney Spears. Not that listening to Britney is a bad thing but the film is meant to be a reflection on us hence the Pop culture references. Also, …Baby One More Time was released in 1999 and it’s Britney’s first single and the 4 girls sing this song at nearly the beginning of the movie then Everytime was used in the middle which is interspersed with the 3 girls robbing and shooting people. This could also be symbolic to Britney’s life like her rise and her breakdown which can be a metaphor of us.
Also the ending is very symbolic. I don’t want to give much of the story away because someone dies. But that character died the most unceremonious way possible is because it happens in real life for people like him. And the fact the characters who have never touched a gun killed everyone unscathed is what the youth think what could happen in situations like this. Pretend it’s a fucking video game, it’s Harmony blurring the lines between reality and surrealism.
Honestly, i can go further and analyze as many aspects in the film and write a thesis on it. The fact that this art house movie has garnered critical acclaim and a polarizing reaction from the general public proves that the movie is more than what meets the eye. Also the soundtrack is perfect for the movie.
