The trailer for Baby Invasion, a mixture of Call Of Duty style shooting video game and experimental cinema, has launched online and prompted a rapturous reaction.
The film is directed by Harmony Korine, the acclaimed filmmaker best known for films such as 1995’s Kids, 2012’s Spring Breakers and 2019’s The Beach Bum. It’s produced through his EDGLRD multimedia company, and has already proved controversial for its use of AI.
Presented as a First Person Shooter (FPS) game, the film follows a group of mercenaries disguised with baby faces who violently invade mansions of the wealthy and powerful. However, as gamers livestream the game, the characters’ gang of horrific murders may or may not be happening in real life.
The official synopsis reads: “Tasked with entering mansions of the rich and powerful, players must explore every rabbit hole before time runs out. As players navigate this dark web-leaked game, the boundaries between the digital and the real world blur.”
BABY INVASION Official Trailer pic.twitter.com/oD66rB4wB0
— EDGLRD (@EDGLRD) March 17, 2025
Korine revealed that AI technology was used to animate the baby face disguises. The surreal experimental film’s trailer was released yesterday (March 17), and film fans have been reacting on X (formerly Twitter).
“Baby Invasion is fucking psychotic harmony korines on a generational run rn” enthused one user, with another adding: “Cutting edge movies move us into the future”.
baby invasion is fucking psychotic harmony korines on a generational run rn
— respawnheaven.bsky.social (@pizzabrainzz) March 18, 2025
Baby Invasion. Cutting edge movies move us into the future#harmonykorine #Entertainment #trailershttps://t.co/uKV66n0qff pic.twitter.com/J2F70QFzAk
— Frank Reina (@FrankjReina) March 17, 2025
The clip inspired a number of jokes, including: “saw xi died so BABY INVASION could live on”, referring to the reporting stalling of the latest Saw sequel. Another shared a satirical review of the film, posting: “letterboxd user gus says ‘did you ever watch ‘the purge’ and wish it looked more like a slot machine?’”
saw xi died so BABY INVASION could live on https://t.co/fbsDTiQa8Y
— nic 🌸 (@danyqira) March 17, 2025
baby invasion. letterboxd user gus says "did you ever watch 'the purge' and wish it looked more like a slot machine?" pic.twitter.com/O77zxau5SB
— sage (@spherection) March 17, 2025
A fan was on the fence as to the final product, saying: “Baby Invasion will be the movie of the year. Or I won’t be able to sit through the whole thing. One or the other”.
Baby Invasion will be the movie of the year. Or I won't be able to sit through the whole thing. One or the other.
— Piecing It Together Podcast 🧩 (@PiecingPod) March 17, 2025
For another, the use of AI proved too much. “Harmony Korine is really trying to get me to skip out on Baby Invasion with that AI bullshit” they wrote, although they then conceded: “I’m continuing to give him the benefit of the doubt”.
Harmony Korine is really trying to get me to skip out on Baby Invasion with that AI bullshit. I’m continuing to give him the benefit of the doubt
— free palestine kow 🌈 (@jamiller6565) March 17, 2025
The movie premiered at Venice last August, and while a release date is yet to be announced, 60-70 minutes of the film were leaked on X/Twitter before being taken down.