The Fits Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Kid ditches boxing for competitive dancing, only for the team to start having mysterious, unexplained fainting spells that are somehow also a metaphor for puberty or something equally confusing.

🍿 The Fits: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Introducing Toni and the Boxing Gym

Eleven-year-old Toni spends her days training alongside her older brother, Jermaine, at a local Cincinnati community center boxing gym. She diligently works out, doing push-ups and learning the ropes of boxing. This initial world is focused, disciplined, and largely masculine.

Drawn to the Dance Troupe

While at the community center, Toni becomes captivated by a vibrant drill and dance team, the Lionesses, who practice in another part of the building. Their energy, confidence, and sense of community pique her interest. Encouraged by her brother, Toni decides to audition for the team, seeking acceptance and a new sense of belonging.

Joining the Lionesses

Toni successfully joins the dance team and begins the process of assimilating into their world. She learns their routines, masters their drills, and even adopts some of their social rituals, like piercing her ears to fit in. She starts to build friendships, particularly with another newcomer named Beezy, navigating the dynamics of the tight-knit group.

The Onset of the Fits

As Toni becomes more embedded in the team, a mysterious phenomenon begins to affect the girls: sudden, violent fainting spells and uncontrollable physical ‘fits.’ The outbreak spreads through the team, causing fear and confusion, though the cause remains unknown. Toni witnesses these events, which twist her desire for acceptance and belonging.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Toni (Royalty Hightower): The tomboyish eleven-year-old protagonist who transitions from boxing to a dance team and becomes affected by a mysterious outbreak of fits.
• Beezy (Alexis Neblett): Toni’s friendly peer on the dance team who helps her navigate the social dynamics and the strange phenomenon.
• Jermaine (Da’Sean Minor): Toni’s older brother who trains in the boxing gym and encourages her to explore the dance team.
• Legs (Makyla Burnam): The confident leader of the dance team who is among the first girls to experience the mysterious fainting spells.
• Maia (Lauren Gibson): A dancer on the team who openly expresses a desire to experience the fits that are affecting the other girls.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Beezy: “We just gotta act like we’ve been here before.” – Said to Toni with a mix of bravado and nervousness as they prepare to join the older, more established girls on the dance team.
• Toni: “Maia wanted it to happen to her.” – Toni observes and comments on the mysterious ‘fits’ affecting the older girls, suggesting a sense of desire or expectation behind the phenomenon.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $168,000
• Domestic Gross: $166,425
• Worldwide Gross: $169,236

💥 The Fits Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so I watched ‘The Fits’ and wow, it’s a weird one, but in a good way! I wasn’t sure what was happening with all the ‘fits’, but I totally got Toni’s feeling of being an outsider trying really hard to belong. The scenes of them dancing, especially the drills, were super cool and intense. And Toni practicing on her own or just watching? You could feel her wanting it so bad. The whole movie had this dreamlike quality, kind of unsettling but also beautiful. That ending scene, floating in the pool? Totally blew my mind and felt like a perfect, strange release after all the tension. It’s definitely not a movie that spells everything out, and I’m still thinking about what it all means, but I really connected with Toni’s journey.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of independent and art-house cinema”
  • “Viewers interested in character studies and coming-of-age stories”
  • “Those who appreciate symbolic and ambiguous narratives”
  • “Audiences looking for films with strong female leads and unique perspectives”
  • “Enthusiasts of dance or drill team culture explored in film”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Depictions of seizure-like fainting spells and physical fits”
  • “Themes related to puberty and adolescence”
  • “Some reviewers interpret subtext potentially related to pregnancy (though not explicitly stated in the plot)”

Professional Reviews

• Professional Critic: “Anna Rose Holmer’s debut is a mesmerizing, atmospheric dive into pre-teen girlhood. Focusing on newcomer Royalty Hightower as Toni, the film is less about plot and more about mood and internal experience. It beautifully captures the awkwardness and intensity of trying to find your place, using movement and striking visuals to convey deep emotion. While the ‘fits’ themselves remain enigmatic, they serve as a potent symbol for the turbulent changes of adolescence. A truly unique and impressive cinematic portrait.
• Professional Critic: “”The Fits” defies easy categorization, blending coming-of-age drama with unsettling mystery. Royalty Hightower delivers a captivating, largely wordless performance as Toni, perfectly embodying the internal struggle to fit in. The film’s strength lies in its immersive visual and sound design, placing you squarely in Toni’s perspective within the vibrant community center. While the ambiguity surrounding the ‘fits’ might frustrate some, it powerfully reflects the often inexplicable nature of growing up and group dynamics. An original and thought-provoking experience.

Audience Reactions

Royalty Hightower’s quiet, powerful performance really resonated with many viewers.: Appreciation for the film’s unique visual style, atmosphere, and its portrayal of adolescent vulnerability and the struggle to fit in.

The ending is a major talking point, sparking both confusion and admiration for its surreal nature.: Praise for the authentic performances from the young, real-life drill team members who made up the cast.

The ambiguity of the ‘fits’ left many viewers trying to interpret the deeper meaning.: While polarizing, many viewers found the film thought-provoking and appreciated its unconventional approach to a coming-of-age story.

Overall Consensus: Critically acclaimed for its artistry and lead performance, ‘The Fits’ is a visually striking and thought-provoking film about adolescence and belonging. Its ambiguous plot and surreal elements make it a polarizing watch for general audiences, sparking diverse interpretations.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The drill team featured in the film was given part ownership, meaning they share in any profits the movie makes.”
• “The cast was largely composed of real-life drill team members from the community center in Cincinnati where the film was shot.”
• “Filming took place entirely within the walls of the Q-Kidz Dance Team’s home at the Lincoln Community Center in Cincinnati’s West End.”
• “This film served as the feature-length debut for writer-director Anna Rose Holmer.”
• “The movie was made on a very low budget, reportedly around $168,000.”

🖥️ How to Watch The Fits?

As a critically acclaimed independent film, ‘The Fits’ may be available on various streaming platforms depending on your region and subscription services. It was noted as being available on Amazon streaming previously. Check services like Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Vudu, or YouTube Movies for current rental or purchase options. Availability can change, so verify on your preferred digital store.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed The Fits, you might like these similar films:

• The Falling (2014): Explores similar themes of adolescent female hysteria, mysterious fainting spells within a school setting, and intense group dynamics.
• Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975): Features a mysterious event affecting a group of girls at a boarding school, creating an atmospheric and ambiguous narrative around female coming-of-age.
• The Virgin Suicides (1999): Focuses on the enigmatic lives and collective experience of a group of teenage sisters, utilizing atmosphere and limited external understanding to explore female adolescence.
• Never Rarely Sometimes Always (2020): A quiet, character-driven independent film centered on a young woman’s journey, featuring strong performances and a focus on internal states and experiences.
• Moonlight (2016): A critically acclaimed coming-of-age story focusing on identity, set within a specific Black community, with a strong sense of place and intimate character study.

🛒 The Fits Related Products

• The Fits Blu-ray: Own the critically acclaimed independent film ‘The Fits’ on high-definition Blu-ray, featuring stunning cinematography and immersive sound.
• The Fits Original Motion Picture Soundtrack: Experience the haunting and atmospheric score by Danny Bensi & Saunder Jurriaans and the captivating song ‘Aurora’ by Kia Victoria that defines the film’s mood.
• Book: Urban Dance Culture: Hip-Hop, Street Dance, and the Body: Explore the history, styles, and cultural significance of urban dance forms, providing context for the drill team culture depicted in the film.
• Girls’ Drill Team Practice Apparel Set: Inspired by the dedication of the Lionesses, this set includes comfortable athletic wear perfect for dance practice or everyday activity.

🎧 Soundtrack

The Fits features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Original Motion Picture Score” – performed by Danny Bensi & Saunder Jurriaans
• “Aurora (Featured in Film)” – performed by Kia Victoria

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Fly Me to the Moon but it actually fits Evangelion vibe (Evangelion, Frank Sinatra)

Ever felt that distinctive, melancholic ‘Evangelion vibe’ from the ‘Fly Me to the Moon’ ending? Give this piano arrangement a listen – it really nails that haunting atmosphere from the show!

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