An introduction to Darla in Space
An introduction to Darla in Space (Laplante and Moon 2024) given by Cindy Tomamichel at our screening in June 2026. Our audience gave this film 3.7 stars.
A lot of reviews of Darla in Space describe it as “weird” or soemthing similar. And it is an odd little film, rated by my daughter as one of the weirdest she has seen!
This is a buddy film, a film of a friendship that crosses species, and one that captures the charm of being awkward in so many different ways. The New York Times describes it as “[mining] its surreal premise for all it’s worth — If you embrace its idiosyncratic vibe, this is indie comedy at its finest.” The directors said their aim for viewers was to accept it was OK if your dreams change, so long as you stay true to yourself.
Alex E. Harris, who plays Darla, is married to one of the directors and was the inspiration for the character. The development of the strange plot was a path that involved the directors and cast, and also their hobbies involving yeast – kombucha and bread making. The secondary characters are also great fun. Darla’s mum, played by Constance Shulman, has echoes of Joan Rivers and Fran Drescher in The Nanny. Film critic Trevor Stucker writes, “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.” One phone call in particular stood out to me as the epitome of this.
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes (ironic, given Darla’s distaste for them), all eight critics’ reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7/10. Benjamin Franz of Film Threat gave the film 9/10, saying, “Truly, this is a once-in-a-lifetime sort of film that comes along and sits in your mind. It’s great.” Darla in Space has definitely stuck in my mind since I watched it, and I think it will stick in yours, too.
Enjoy the film - and your complimentary kombucha!
Further reading
Darla in Space (review) - Benjamin Franz, Film Threat, 20 Jan 2024
Darla in Space (Slamdance 2024) (review) - Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, AWFJ, 22 Jan 2024
Darla in Space Interview With Co-writers/directors Eric Laplante and Susie Moon! - Film Inquiry, YouTube, 9 Feb 2024
Indy Film Fest 2024: Darla in Space Review - Trevor Stucker, The Movie State, 26 Apr 2024