Only recently have Hollywood studios been less skittish about including sex-related activities in their films. Whether it is big-budget features like Oppenheimer and Poor Things, or smaller comedies like No Hard Feelings, sex is making a comeback. Darla in Space is the next sex-centered film in this new wave. While the film has a different perspective on sexuality compared to most, it brings a discussion that’s rarely seen in cinema anymore. 

Darla in Space is written and directed by Eric Laplante and Susie Moon. It follows Darla Peterson (Alex E. Harris), who finds out she owes the IRS $349,000. To come up with the money, she teams up with a sentient being to pay off the debt. The being, named Mother, can grant orgasms to whoever touches it, which is how Darla plans to pay back the IRS. 

The plot of the film is explicit and bizarre, but that’s exactly what drew me to it. There are plenty of movies about characters needing money by a specific date, but Darla in Space takes an entirely different approach to the genre. Instead of only representing sexual activity, the orgasm sequences are used to promote a feeling of mental fulfillment to Darla. 

Darla is stuck in a rut as her dream business is failing to launch and she requires a driving force to keep her going. Darla’s mother Leona (Constance Shulman) is constantly bickering with her about her health, which keeps Darla distracted from her personal goals. Leona is also the main reason why Darla is in debt to the IRS, making her situation even worse.

Films with this high concept can run into the problem of being “one-note,” but luckily this is not the case with Darla in Space. As the film progresses, it invents new rules and delves deeper into the sci-fi genre that feels fresh and entertaining. Despite the small budget, most of the supernatural elements are effective and well-utilized, having many standout effects. There are a few moments where the effects become too artificial, in particular with Mother, but most of it is extremely well done.

Alex E. Parris is a compelling lead with a distinguishably demanding personality and a committed performance, but it is Constance Shulman who stole the show for me. Her experience as an actress is clear as the stubbornness of her character reaches beyond the screen. I was simultaneously annoyed with her character and impressed by her performance. The voice work of Mother served the character well enough but felt too monotone. The personality of Mother did not stretch much further than the script and felt more like an A.I. rather than anything supernatural. 

Darla’s journey was captivating not only because of Alex E. Parris’s performance but because the script took her to places that were engrossing to watch. Her adventures to pay back the IRS take her down some dark paths and seeing her transition from a noble dreamer to a ferocious go-getter is riveting to watch. There are some moments about her arch that I wish were fleshed out more, but most of it is extremely well done.
Darla in Space may not change the game of filmmaking, but its genre-bending story and themes of adulthood make this a worthy watch. Its depiction of sexual activity and how it parallels real-life goals made for an extremely memorable watch. Although the film is simple in structure, the presentation is anything but.

Darla in Space was screened as part of the 2024 Indy Film Fest. Buy tickets here.