The word “Karen” has had a busy few years. It’s gone from being your friend’s name, to a catch-all for racist white women, and now to the title of a whirlwind feature film. Karen, from veteran writer/director Coke Daniels, takes viewers on a journey all too familiar: after moving to an affluent neighborhood, a black couple faces a racist white woman living next door who’s determined to drive them out by any means necessary.

The film’s release follows a viral stint from earlier this year, when its trailer dropped online and subsequently sparked confusion, excitement, and severe backlash all at once.  Karen’s unmysterious subject matter is based on thousands of true stories, prompting countless responses that suggested the film was capitalizing off of the real-life trauma of black Americans.  

The criticism isn’t unwarranted, as Karen can feel pretty close to home.  Hollywood fantasy is replaced with harrowing scenes and dialogue ripped directly from real-life events that are still happening today. The weaponization of whiteness is nothing new, but seeing it in full flex might feel a bit too personal for viewers. I haven’t experienced racism as white man, but it’s understandable why someone wouldn’t want to see a villain on-screen that they’ve already faced in real life.

Despite the controversy, Karen does seem to have good intentions. Several black voices are centered, and we even get an appearance from famed civil rights attorney Ben Crump. The overall messaging is one of empowerment, and continued resilience against racism. I even felt personally represented in the film, as seeing a white boy named Kyle who couldn’t play basketball was very true to my own experience.

The titular villain is played by Taryn Manning of Orange is the New Black, whose performance as the racist matriarch reads as unhinged and obsessive, rather than pitiful or naive. Manning’s acting is actually quite entertaining, but even with some interspersed comedic moments, her character is not redeemed or forgiven. Karen takes the side of its black heroes (played by Cory Hardrict & Jasmine Burke) overall, and any in-universe attempts to humanize racism are easily perceived as hollow.

I watched the movie with reservations, and even post-viewing I honestly feel a bit conflicted. Karen carefully holds the racist white characters as villains, while uplifting its black characters into heroic focus. Still, even the black characters feel like caricatures at times, and showing us repeated brutalizations and microaggressions towards black people, albeit on-screen, can feel like the recycling of trauma for monetary or even an artistic gain.

The title and premise give it a pre-ordained uphill battle, and it’s sure to polarize viewers before even seeing it. But hey, we also knew what would happen in Titanic; I’d advise everyone to see Karen if they feel comfortable seeing material in this vein. It doesn’t shy away from the realities of racism, and the events address everything from complicity to racial education in our communities.

Despite its faults, Karen is sure of itself and knows the story it wants to tell. It’s a sensational, harrowing piece, but even its most lighthearted or distressing moments concerning the “Karen” phenomenon don’t dilute the filmmaker’s statements.

7 Out of 10