"An engaging modern look at youth culture and the struggle to find a place within a peer group, this indie drama / documentary is sure to bring teen-hood memories flooding back"

In a world obsessively consuming endless amounts of reality TV, Garry Sykes’ first feature film delves into the dark heart of scripted reality drama. Based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Drunken Butterflies taps into the socially complicated lives of eight teenagers whose days consist of living for the weekend and the drama that inevitably ensues.

Tracy Bell is Newcastle’s Queen Bee, everyone knows her name and the exceedingly bitchy reputation that proceeds her. Surrounding herself with a small group of ‘yes’ girls (Becca, Chloe and Sarah) who themselves are desperate to cling onto the coat tails of local infamy, this insecure group soon fracture upon learning that newcomer Chloe drunkenly cheated on Tracy’s brother Liam.

Seeking refuge from the oncoming storm of Tracy and co.’s wrath, Chloe sheepishly reconciles with former friends Nicky and Isla in search of true friendship and comfort. Cinematographer Emily-Jane Robinson skilfully eases between the transitions of brutally honest interviews (conducted with young local city-goers) and intertwining them amongst the full on, consistent barrage of unrelenting teenage drama. Booze, sex, drugs, lies and ‘frenemies’ dominate this dark coming of age drama and with deceit harbouring around every corner, Sykes authentically conveys the pressures of teenage friendship, the battle for popularity and trials to maintain that power.

With such a predominately negative outlook on the nature of adolescent female friendships, Drunken Butterflies can be a hard film to stomach at times. However, despite its flaws this Mean Girls takes on Geordie Shore is a promising start to Garry Sykes directorial career.

The whole cast give commendably relatable performances highlighting the fickle and frequently shallow world these eight teenagers inhabit, where every move is scrutinised and gossiping Chinese whispers is the order of the day.

Verdict – An engaging modern look at youth culture and the struggle to find a place within a peer group, this indie drama / documentary is sure to bring teen-hood memories flooding back.