Here Now (2015)

Here Now is what happens when a fashion film refuses to be a mere lookbook and instead becomes a brisk, mischievous Gregg Araki mood piece—bright, flirtatious, and just a little dangerous around the edges. In a tight runtime it bottles that Araki spark: pop-colored style, sly comedy, and a sense that desire and identity are being worn as boldly as the clothes themselves, with Avan Jogia and Jane Levy giving it a playful, magnetic charge. The vibe is glossy and kinetic, like stumbling into a neon-lit daydream where every glance feels like a punchline and every outfit tells a secret. If you’re allergic to high-fashion artiness or want a conventional narrative, it may feel more like a stylish jolt than a full meal—but if you’re on the fence, it’s a quick, irresistible sip of Araki’s sensibility.

Here Now is essentially a glossy fashion short filtered through Gregg Araki’s offbeat, neon-tinged sensibility, aiming to feel like a cool, slightly surreal slice of youth culture rather than a fully fleshed-out story. If you’re expecting a proper comedy with setups, payoffs, and character arcs, you’ll likely find it thin and more like a stylish mood piece (read: a brand film) that prioritizes vibe and visuals over laughs. The performances are game and the aesthetic is undeniably slick, but the “plot” is more suggestion than substance, so it can feel like you’re watching an extended ad that occasionally remembers it’s supposed to be a film. This is for you if you enjoy Araki’s tone and fashion-forward imagery; skip it if you want narrative depth, big jokes, or anything resembling a traditional movie experience.