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Homemade Gatorade
It is often said that the internet is a weird place, but truthfully, it’s only as weird as we, the people on it, are, and so there is always potential to bring that weirdness away with us. In Homemade Gatorade, writer/director Carter Amelia Davis chronicles a weird online interaction between two individuals and how it turns into an adventure in real life. Transcending simple weirdness, though, Davis’ unique style mixes humor with sharp social commentary, taking us on a wild and surprising adventure, too.
The premise is self-evidently absurd… a woman develops her own “creamy” version of Gatorade and, via forums and social media, desperately tries to find buyers for it online. Upon reflection, though, I was forced to question that absurdity—if there is one thing millennials have embraced with the internet, it’s the concept of unorthodox work. “There are so many people with side hustles and entrepreneurial aspirations right now”, Davis explained, describing some of her inspiration for the premise before adding, “…we hear a lot about the people who succeed, but what about those who fail?” Ultimately, we are meant to laugh, as the absurdity is fully embraced in both the writing and the visual aesthetic of the film, but there is something undeniably touching in the narrative, dare I say relatable, in the protagonist’s state of mind. “I wanted to make a film that could make people laugh but also reflect the horrifying reality of American life right now”, Davis confessed.
Davis’ animation process: collage image compositions in Photoshop, then animate in After Effects.
Homemade Gatorade is immediately unsettling but captivating— the epitome of a “you cannot look away” film. As we watch the protagonist go on her quest to deliver her goods to her first real-life customer, the question of success is not even what guides us; it’s the insanity of the online exchange that, personally, I wish could have lasted longer. Daniella Peterson voices the main protagonist, while Davis herself voices the iconic “Susie Gjhjjfjh”. The juxtaposition of their tones is brilliant, and greatly contributes to making the film’s hilarity… up until its surprising ending!
Mainly animated by Davis, with some additional 3D animation by VirtualMoth, the mix of distorted photo collage and live-action is a brilliantly distinct approach, matching the energy of the narrative and bringing a certain level of self-deprecation and that tell-tale “weird” feeling to the proceedings. This description from Davis’ bio is apt: “…her work should ideally make you laugh and feel like you need to take a shower or something.” Odd, but accurate!
Homemade Gatorade premiered online on YouTube months ago; however, its recent selection at the 2026 Sundance put it on our radar, and now a promising festival run looks to take off with the film traveling to Regard in Quebec next. Davis is one of a constellation of exciting animators born and sustained on the internet for whom the festival world is a “nice” to have but not the be-all end-all. She maintains a successful Patreon and has also self-published a novel. Davis’ other films are also available online, and she is active on social media. With this level of hustle, Homemade Gatorade makes much more sense!
