Netflix hype “I. Am. So. Happy.”
Viewers demand “trigger warning”
“I. Am. So. Happy” is a great success for Netflix, but there are also critical voices.
© Sabrina Lantos/Netflix
Some viewers are clamoring for Netflix’s new thriller, “I. Am. So. Happy.” preceded by a so-called “trigger warning”.
“I. Am. So. Happy.” has been on Netflix since October 7th. starring Mila Kunis (39) available. In Germany, the thriller drama immediately went to the top of the streaming service’s film charts – and is also number one globally with 43 million minutes streamed.
Although “I. Am. So. Happy.” thus becoming a huge success for Netflix, there has also been criticism of the streaming service from many quarters. On social networks, a number of viewers are demanding that “I. Am. So. Happy.” preceded by a so-called “trigger warning”. What happened?
Warning, plot spoilers for “I. Am. So. Happy.”
The past of Tiffani “Ani” Fanelli (Kunis), the main character of “I’m. So. Happy.”, holds several disturbing secrets and traumas. As a teenager, Ani was abused by three of her classmates in one evening. The horrific gang rape is shown in the Netflix film in great detail and relatively abruptly.
Later in the film, a shooting spree takes place at Ani’s private school, in which two of her rapists die at gunpoint. Ani’s friends practice vigilantism here. This realistically shown scene also obviously surprises many viewers of “I. Am. So. Happy.”. After watching the film, some users on Twitter express their wish that the Netflix streaming service should precede the work with a “trigger warning”. If it were clear in advance what content the viewer would expect, a traumatic viewing experience could possibly be prevented.
“Please don’t look ‘I. Am. So. Happy.’ on Netflix if you’re traumatized by a sexual assault. This movie needs a big, big, big, big, huge trigger warning,” writes for example user @prettyxprophet.
In a sarcastic tone, user @SkylarRyalynn agrees: “Wow, well done Netflix for not providing a trigger warning on your ‘I. Am. So. Happy.’ movie”. The same tweet warns against “very visually intense scenes of sexual assault”.
In fact, “I. Am. So. Happy.” in Germany only released from the age of 18. Viewers must enter a four-digit age verification pin before viewing the film. Bruna Papandrea (51), one of the film’s producers, remarked to “EW”that the Netflix film’s themes “may be difficult for some to watch”. But the producer of such previous hit films and series as ‘Gone Girl’ (2014) and ‘Big Little Lies’ (2017-2019) expresses hope that the film could also “start difficult, necessary discussions”.