How To Have Sex is a disturbing but uneven look at the insidious dangers of Rape Culture. Set in Crete, it follows three teenage best friends from Britain who’ve gone on holiday to celebrate the end of their exams. When the girls arrive in Greece, they’re hungry for French fries, sex, and shots in equal measure. The friends even jokingly buy a prize for the person who “gets laid” the most.
A seasoned cinematography and new director, Molly Manning Walker has created a visually stunning film. Unfortunately, the screenplay (also by Walker), often feels superficial. While the film explores the ubiquity of Rape Culture by depicting disturbing and realistic scenes of sexual assault, it doesn’t show us anything new.
When we meet the trio, Taz (Mia McKenna-Bruce), described as “a massive virgin,” is on a mission to sleep with someone for the first time. Meanwhile, straight-A student Em (Enva Lewis) and party girl Skye (Lara Peake) cheer their bestie on while drinking themselves sick. Neither Em nor Skye receive much meaningful character development, and merely serve as foils for their less academic virgin friend.
While Molly Manning Walker’s technical skill behind a camera makes her a director to watch, I wouldn’t recommend watching How to Have Sex. Survivors of sexual assault in particular may find the film triggering. And while triggering art can still be worth seeing, the story lacks the catharsis of a a satisfying climax. Ultimately, it’s a film with good intentions that doesn’t hit the mark.
- Genre: Drama
- Release Date: 9/7/2023
- Directed by: Molly Manning Walker
- Starring: Enva Lewis, Lara Peake, Mia McKenna-Bruce
- Produced by: Ben Coren Kristin, Farhana Bhula, Fionnuala Jamieson, Irving Giorgos Karnavas, Phil Hunt Compton Ross
- Written by: Molly Manning Walker
