Harmony Korine

The Profile

Harmony Korine is an American filmmaker, screenwriter, and artist known for writing Kids (1995) and directing Gummo (1997), Julien Donkey-Boy (1999), Mister Lonely (2007), Trash Humpers (2009), Spring Breakers (2012), and The Beach Bum (2019). His work blends independent and experimental sensibilities with provocative portraits of American subcultures.

Korine wrote the screenplay for Kids (1995) and directed the music video for Rihanna’s Needed Me (2016).

DeBaser’s five reviews of Harmony Korine orbit two poles: Gummo’s raw, nihilist Americana and Spring Breakers’ candy-colored descent into hedonism. Critics highlight his grotesque, offbeat style, borderline characters, and immersive aesthetics. Praise centers on formal daring and honesty; reservations on narrative thinness and forced subplots. Overall: confronting, stylish, divisive—and hard to ignore.