At some point I’m sure almost everyone can pinpoint a moment in time where they’ve wanted to change something about themselves or even entirely reinvent who they are because they feel like they don’t belong or don’t quite fit in with the “norm”. It’s a feeling that has only been amplified by the emergence of social media, the ease with which appearance altering surgeries can be acquired, and the extreme shift in unfathomable beauty standards that not even 0.01% of the population will ever achieve. And while Amy Wang’s Slanted tackles the ugly reality of today’s society, she also confronts the inherent racism that continues to plague America.

Slanted follows Joan (Shirley Chen), a Chinese American teenager who emigrated at a young age. From the moment she arrives in America she is mocked, bullied and subjected to casual racism at every turn as classmates ridicule her appearance and the traditional Chinese packed lunches she brings to school. Becoming increasingly insecure about her Asian identity and desperate to be considered pretty and fit in with the popular, conventionally attractive girls led by Olivia (Amelie Zilber), Joan dreams of becoming high school prom queen. Yet with the social prejudices she faces daily, it feels like an impossible dream.

Enter Ethnos, a morally questionable medical company run by Dr Willie (R. Keith Harris), who offer an ethnic modification surgery that can turn anyone of any race white, instantly solving all their problems as the privilege of being a white American suddenly opens doors that were previously closed. After coercing her unsuspecting mother into signing the consent form, the surgery transforms Joan into a blonde American girl now going by Jo (Mckenna Grace), where she is immediately greeted with friendlier interactions and noticed by the very people she has long craved recognition from.

From the outset, Wang is unapologetic in her writing, with many of the jokes providing cutting social commentary on modern America, particularly for people of colour and immigrants. It is deliberately on the nose and makes no apologies for its uncomfortable narrative, especially for those who may be unaware of the struggles faced by people trying to match unrealistic beauty standards or being overlooked for promotions simply because of the colour of their skin or the way they look because it is “different” to the average American. It’s bold and, for the most part, the film rolls with the punches and lands them extremely well.

There is also some genuinely pertinent messaging about loving yourself for who you are and embracing the culture you come from. Beauty, after all, comes from uniqueness and individuality. Wang does a good job of ensuring that this message sits at the forefront of the final act, even amongst the on the nose jokes which, again for the most part, work well and make it an enjoyable dark comedy for much of the runtime.

Another particular highlight is the body horror on display. It feels very The Substance esque in places, particularly in the final act. It’s grotesque and will make many in the audience squeamish as the make-up department gets to showcase their sensational work in what is, at this point of the year, my favourite use of make-up so far. There is one particular scene towards the end, you’ll know it when you see it, that will live long in the memory due to the realism that genuinely turned my stomach.

Unfortunately, for all that is good about Slanted, some of the execution does let it down. Joan’s insecurities at the beginning never move much beyond surface level observations, often tying everything back to becoming prom queen rather than truly exploring the struggles she has faced as an Asian American, something that could have been deeply relatable for many if it had been developed further. There are also various subplots, particularly involving her best friend before the surgery Brindha (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan), who endures the same prejudice and discrimination, that feel underdeveloped and are often left unresolved rather than given a satisfying conclusion.

While comparisons to The Substance will inevitably happen, there is enough in Amy Wang’s Slanted to justify its independent existence. For the most part well written and thoroughly well acted by Shirley Chen and Mckenna Grace in particular, Slanted is an ambitious take on beauty standards centred around “whiteness” that should encourage viewers to reflect on some uncomfortable realities. Despite a few minor grievances, the dark humour and brilliant body horror alone make it worth the price of admission.