Before he dons the scarlet mask as “The Flash” on The CW this fall, Grant Gustin shows a different side of himself in “Affluenza.” The psychological issue of the same name is defined as a lack of drive or motivation among wealthy young people, often associated with guilt and a sense of isolation. Loosely based on “The Great Gatsby,” this film is a story of the darker side of the world of excess.
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In the trailer for the film by director Kevin Asch, the psychological condition definitely seems to be afflicting the young characters at the center of the story. To heighten their situation, the plot takes place in 2008, before the recession, leaving these young people with nothing but time and money and no inkling that it could ever end.
The story centers on Fisher, played by Ben Rosenfield (“Boardwalk Empire”), who ditches his middle-class life to enter his cousin’s (Nikola Peltz, “Bates Motel”) life of excess, thanks to his trusty camera and some even better weed. As the trailer progresses, it becomes clear that things aren’t always as rosy as they seem, and glass mansions are prone to cracks.
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The film was directed by Kevin Asch, who developed the story with screenwriter Antonio Macia. It co-stars Gregg Sulkin (“Faking It”), Steve Guttenberg, and Samantha Mathis. “Affluenza” is produced by Lookbook Films and M.E.G.A. Films, and will be distributed by FilmBuff to theaters and VOD on Friday, July 11.