“Slaxx” is a black-humoured horror comedy from 2020, directed by Elza Kephart. The film tells the story of a murderous pair of jeans that wreaks havoc in a fashion shop. In a mixture of absurd ideas and satirical commentary, “Slaxx” takes a critical look at the exploitation of the textile industry and consumerism.
The plot revolves around the young saleswoman Libby, who works at the hip fashion brand “CCC”. The company has just launched its latest collection and is preparing for a big sales day. But it soon turns out that the newly arrived trousers have a dark, murderous power. The jeans “Slaxx” develops a life of its own and begins to attack the shop’s employees one by one.
“Slaxx” is characterised by its absurdly funny ideas that fascinate and amuse the viewer in equal measure. The idea of a pair of murdering jeans may sound crazy at first, but the film manages to realise this absurd premise in an entertaining and convincing way. The jeans act with an almost superhuman speed and flexibility, which leads to some unexpected and hilarious scenes.
In addition, the film uses its grotesque plot to convey socially critical messages. “Slaxx” addresses the working conditions in the textile industry and the exploitation of workers. The brand “CCC” is portrayed as a parody of large fashion corporations that put profit above the safety and dignity of their employees. The murdering jeans thus become a metaphor for the dark sides of the global fashion industry.
In addition to criticising the textile industry, “Slaxx” also takes aim at consumerism and the superficiality of society. The customers in the film are portrayed as easily manipulated and completely obsessed with trends and brands. This leads to some bizarre scenes in which the customers of “CCC” literally worship the jeans before they are attacked by them.
