Karen (film)

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Karen
Karenteaserposter.png
Teaser poster
Directed byCoke Daniels
Written byCoke Daniels
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyAnthony J. Rickert-Epstein
Production
companies
BET Original Movies
Flixville USA
Distributed byQuiver Distribution
Release date
  • September 3, 2021 (2021-09-03)
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Karen is a 2021 American dark crime dramedy thriller film written and directed by Coke Daniels and starring Taryn Manning.[1][2][3][4] The title of the film is a reference to the stereotype of the same name.[5] The film was critically panned upon release.

Plot[]

Malik and Imani are a young black couple who move into a new house in Harvey Hill, a suburb of Atlanta, next to the home of Harvey Hill Homeowners Association president Karen Drexler. Karen is quick to introduce herself to Malik; she refuses to shake his hand, makes a callous comment about not "having any cash" in her home, and installs a security camera in the direction of their house. Although Malik and Imani are perplexed by Karen's behavior, they decide to ignore their concerns and focus on settling in.

Unbeknownst to the both of them, Karen is virulently racist, with Neo-Confederate memorabilia in her home and a reputation for abusing her power as president to target local black residents, often recruiting her equally racist brother, patrolman Mike Wind, to help. She soon starts harassing and stalking Malik and Imani, trying to find something she can use to get them out of Harvey Hill. She discovers that Malik smokes marijuana and catches her son watching the couple have sex in front of an open window, but when she brings the issue up at a meeting of the Association's executive board, the other members are disturbed by her bigoted remarks about African Americans and decide not to take any action.

After learning that Malik and Imani are holding a housewarming party for their friends, Karen convinces Imani that she wants to make amends and receives an invitation. At the party, she quickly offends everyone present by trying to argue that black Americans are being too "angry" and saying that if they don't like America, they should just "go back". Malik angrily kicks her out. The next day, Karen comes across three young black men, and demands that they present her with identification. They refuse, and she calls her brother, lying that they are threatening her physically. Mike arrests them, but the men are quickly released after video footage surfaces of Karen's phone call. The Association then fires her as president after the father of one of the young men sues them.

Karen gets Mike to pull Malik over as he's driving home from work by revealing his history of marijuana use. Mike finds no marijuana in his car, so he plants a bag of weed in the trunk, resulting in Malik spending the night in jail. Karen then visits Imani the next morning, telling her that she and her husband should leave the neighborhood if they don't want any more trouble. Imani defiantly responds that she and Malik won't be leaving anytime soon. That night, Mike arrives with a search warrant and arrests Malik again, while Karen cuts the power to their house and breaks in with a gun. The siblings threaten Imani at gunpoint before Karen seemingly shoots her dead. Mike's partner rushes in, and a standoff ensues until Mike and his partner shoot each other; Mike is killed while his partner is only slightly wounded. Karen prepares to finish him off, but a still-alive Imani grabs Mike's gun and kills her in self-defense.

Malik is released, and he and Imani receive a full apology and compensation from the city of Atlanta for what they went through.

Cast[]

Production[]

Principal photography began in Georgia in December 2020.[9][10] Filming wrapped in February 2021.[11]

Release[]

In August 2021, it was announced that Quiver Distribution acquired North American distribution rights to the film, which was released theatrically and on demand on September 3, 2021.[12]

Reception[]

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 17% of 23 reviews are positive, with an average rating of 2.9/10.[13]

References[]

  1. ^ Ramos, Dino-Ray (26 August 2020). "Taryn Manning Feels Entitled In Timely Thriller 'Karen'; Devin Druid, Carmela Zumbado And Matthew Hancock Celebrate The Holidays In 'White Elephant' – Film Briefs". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  2. ^ Dick, Jeremy (20 August 2020). "Karen Movie Is Happening with Taryn Manning". MovieWeb. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  3. ^ Bolling, Gaius (21 August 2020). "Taryn Manning Set To The Play The Ultimate Karen In New Suspense Thriller". JoBlo.com. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  4. ^ Espinal, Noel (27 October 2020). "Dublin raised Hollywood producers look to film timely thriller 'Karen' in Macon". WGXA. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  5. ^ Yalcinkaya, Gunseli (24 August 2020). "A Karen-inspired crime thriller is in the works". Dazed. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  6. ^ Welk, Brian (24 August 2020). "Taryn Manning to Star as 'Karen' in Suspense Thriller From Director Coke Daniels". TheWrap. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  7. ^ N'Duka, Amanda (18 December 2020). "Cory Hardrict To Star In 'Karen' Drama; Mauricio Henao Joins 'Panama'; Nolan River Cast In 'Old' – Film Casting Briefs". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  8. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (18 June 2021). "13 Films Boards Thriller 'Karen' With Taryn Manning, Cory Hardrict, Jasmine Burke — Cannes Market". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  9. ^ Johnson, CJ (2 February 2021). "Here's The List Of Movies Being Filmed In Atlanta, Georgia Right Now". AtlantaFi.com. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  10. ^ Ho, Rodney (17 February 2021). "What's filming in Georgia in February 2021?". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  11. ^ Ho, Rodney (16 March 2021). "What's filming in Georgia in March, 2021?". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  12. ^ Patrick Hipes (August 6, 2021). "'Last Night In Rozzie' Gets U.S. Deal Via Gravitas Ventures; Taryn Manning As 'Karen' Scooped Up By Quiver; Good Deed Music Arm; 'Blob Blob Fish' & 'Florian's Knights' Dates – Film Briefs". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  13. ^ "Karen". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved September 26, 2021.

External links[]

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