Jane Schoenbrun’s 2021 film, We’re All Going to the World’s Fair, explores themes of loneliness and digital connection through the lens of a horror-tinged coming-of-age story.
Key facts
- •The film premiered at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival.
- •Casey, the protagonist, documents her participation in an online ritual called the World’s Fair Challenge.
- •The film explores themes of loneliness and the search for belonging in an online world.
- •JLB is a middle-aged character who interacts with Casey and claims she is in danger.
- •The film is currently available to stream on the Criterion Channel, Kanopy, and Hoopla.
Directed by Jane Schoenbrun, the film We’re All Going to the World’s Fair centers on a young girl named Casey who participates in an online ritual known as the World’s Fair Challenge. The movie, which premiered at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival, follows Casey as she documents her experiences through webcam videos while seeking connection in an online environment.
Plot and Themes
The film depicts the World’s Fair Challenge as an internet-based game involving horror tropes, where participants claim to undergo physical changes after performing a ritual. Casey, the protagonist, is portrayed as a lonely girl who lacks meaningful real-world connections, with her only parental presence being an unseen, shouting father. The narrative focuses on her search for belonging rather than traditional coming-of-age tropes, explicitly avoiding the sexualization of its lead character.
Character Dynamics
The story features a secondary character named JLB, a middle-aged man who contacts Casey and claims she is in danger. Their interactions introduce a sense of voyeurism and unease, suggesting a potential grooming dynamic. The film is noted for its use of body horror elements and its focus on the ambiguity of online relationships.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by The Verge.
