‘The People’s Joker’ Review: A Future Midnight Screening Classic

Director, writer, and star of The People’s Joker Vera Drew set out to make a subversive coming-of-age comedy that parodies the 2019 Todd Phillip film, Joker, and she accomplished just that. Read our The People’s Joker review below.

The People’s Joker Review

The People’s Joker feels like one of those special one-of-a-kind movies that make you question what you are watching (in a good way). It’s jumbled, throwing different stylistic and narrative choices at you left and right. It feels like a stream of consciousness, as if the viewer converses directly with its director. The movie almost feels like the audience is getting to read her personal diary. The director, Gotham Award winner Vera Drew, has, in my opinion, made one of the most personal movies of the year.

As mentioned before, the film loosely follows the plot of the 2019 film, Joker. (The film does not give Vera Drew’s character a name other than her dead name, which is mentioned once, and the moniker Joker the Harlequin, so I will call her as such throughout this review). The story follows Joker the Harlequin from when she was young to when she moved to Gotham to find herself and separate from her oppressive family. Joker dreams of being a comic but is held down by her crippling insecurities and doubts about her gender identity. 

To try to fit this film into a single genre would be like fighting a losing battle. It has action, drama, comedy, coming-of-age, and moments that will bring a tear to your eye. The film is autobiographical as well as fictional, so as you go through it, it feels as if you get direct insight into pivotal moments of Vera Drew’s own life. Along with the unique narrative language, the film is also visually distinctive. The film actually commissioned many different artists to provide backdrops and even some character designs for the movie so that it almost feels stitched together. There are so many different artistic styles fighting for the spotlight, but it ultimately gives the film some charm. 

An aspect I found particularly fascinating is the idea that transgender people feel othered by certain members of the LGBTQIA+ community. In the film, it is described as having an asterisk by the word gay because, to some people, you are still a little off from just being gay. The more nuanced and in-depth dialogues are where the film really hooked me. The film shined in the smaller parts. Hearing about Vera Drew’s singular transgender experience was incredibly special. 

This year, we have gotten many films attempting to capture a part of the transgender experience, such as I Saw the TV Glow and Emilia Pérez. The consensus online and with critics seems to be that I Saw the TV Glow and The People’s Joker achieved this the most, and I would have to concur. These films, both made by two brilliant transgender directors, feel more true and honest about the transgender experience. However, in Emilia Pérez, Emilia’s gender identity feels like a plot device used by a French man to create an interesting narrative. The two films really speak to how important it is to have representation behind the camera to create a more authentic film. 

Unfortunately, the film did not work for me entirely, and that was mainly due to the visuals. The film was crowdsourced and, as stated by Vera Drew, had basically no budget. With that, you get some horrendous-looking visuals and iffy greenscreen. I do not knock the film for this because it did so much with what it has, but I mention it because I could see it being a turn-off for a lot of audiences. The film also feels bloated at times. Either some things should have been cut or more storylines should have been given space to breathe because some of them feel rushed or unresolved. 

Despite the little flaws, I can see this film meaning so much to a lot of queer people. I am patiently waiting for the day when this film will be shown at a midnight screening with a packed audience, in the vein of Rocky Horror Picture Show and The Room. If you are uncertain whether you should give this film a watch, I am here to make it very clear: not only is this a very important landmark for transgender representation in cinema, but it is also a unique experience that is endlessly entertaining and also endearing in many ways. 

The People’s Joker is directed, written, and starring Vera Drew and had a small theatrical run in April 2024. You can watch it today on Mubi.

Thanks for reading this review of The People’s Joker. If you liked it be sure to read more reviews and articles here at Feature First.