A proven fact of life is that no matter how in control you think you are, a crowded street of rowdy teenagers, acid, and alcohol can change that in an instant. Besties Dylan (Sydney Taylor) and Lizzy (Hannah Kepple) hatch a scheme to make it to a block party, a plan that involves borrowing a car from Dylan’s mom’s (Olivia Allen) boyfriend (Chad Crone). An eager Dylan jumps right into the fray, but Lizzy remains vigilant, and soon their time out together takes a dangerously warped turn. Dizzy’s premise certainly promises something wild. ‘One for the books,’ as its synopsis states. So when the chips are down and the party is at its most heated, does Dizzy deliver? Yes, yes, it does.
In a fun, feverish frenzy, director Zac La Roc turns an evening full of questionable teen decision-making into something wholly immersive. Most of Dizzy plays out like an abbreviated segment of Sam Levinson’s Euphoria or his more underappreciated work Assassination Nation. One need only look at the deeply saturated colors and impressive shot selection of Director of Photography Daniel Contaldo to make the comparison, but the finer details of Bella Erikson’s editing also stands out. Drugs and alcohol are part of the plot, but the rapid editing style really helps mimic the effects and, in turn, makes the audience feel more present with the partygoers. All that’s to say, you definitely won’t be bored riding shotgun with Dylan and Lizzy on their daring quest.
The acting is solid, and even though the story does weave into some outlandish territories with how far some of the partying can go, it all remains engaging thanks to its unpredictability. Both Taylor and Kepple are incredibly likeable, especially with Kepple’s Lizzy having some common sense to anchor the plot in some semblance of realism. When it comes to the characters, the writing can sometimes feel surface level, save for its leads. So while not everyone winds up being properly fleshed out, the costume (Johnny Wujek) and makeup department (Ashley Aldridge and Sasha Araujo) more than compensate with some truly memorable looks, like that of unruly street thug Angel (Philip Michael).
With a young adult shot of adrenaline, Dizzy pushes a frantic pace throughout. With compelling leads and some outlandish twists, entertainment is guaranteed with this one.
