SXSW 2025: The Must-See Films We’re Eyeing at This Year’s Festival

SXSW 2025 is packed with must-see genre films, from sci-fi horror to dark comedies!

The festival circuit is in full swing, and while Sundance may not have generated a ton of sales, that doesn’t mean the rest of the season looks bleak. We have several festivals lined up, and one of the biggest on our radar is SXSW 2025.

This year’s lineup promises an exciting mix of fresh talent, bold storytelling, and genre-bending films. Austin always delivers a killer festival experience, offering everything from stand-up comedy and live music to cutting-edge indie films. Over the years, SXSW has introduced audiences to genre-defining cinema, and this year looks no different.

Instead of rambling on about what to expect, let’s dive straight into the films we can’t wait to see!

World Premieres We’re Hyped For

AMERICAN SWEATSHOP

Synopsis: Daisy, a young woman working “the worst job in the world”—purging hateful, sexual, and violent content from social media—finds herself deeply affected by the darkness she encounters online.

Why We’re Excited: Ever wondered who cleans up the internet’s worst content? How do they live normal lives after filtering out the chaos we casually scroll past? Uta Briesewitz, known for her work on The Wire, Wheel of Time, and Stranger Things, brings this unsettling premise to life.

Director: Uta Briesewitz

Writer: Matthew Nemeth

Cast: Lili Reinhart, Daniela Melchior, Jeremy Ang Jones, Josh Whitehouse, Joel Fry

ASH

Synopsis: A woman wakes up on a distant planet to find her entire crew slaughtered. As she investigates, she sets off a terrifying chain of events.

Why We’re Excited: The trailer dropped last week, and it looks even better than expected—like a horror video game come to life. With Flying Lotus behind the camera and Eiza González leading the charge, this is shaping up to be the must-watch sci-fi horror of SXSW.

Director: Flying Lotus

Writer: Jonni Remmler

Cast: Eiza González, Aaron Paul, Iko Uwais, Kate Elliott, Beulah Koale

DEATH OF A UNICORN

Synopsis: A father and daughter accidentally hit and kill a unicorn while en route to a weekend retreat with his billionaire boss.

Why We’re Excited: We thought A24 was dropping this film earlier in the year, but we’re happy to see it making a SXSW debut. The cast? Jenna Ortega, Paul Rudd, and Will Poulter. The premise? Absolutely unhinged. Director Alex Scharfman previously delivered the tense psychological thriller Resurrection, so we’re curious to see how he handles this absurd, darkly comedic setup.

Director: Alex Scharfman

Cast: Paul Rudd, Jenna Ortega, Will Poulter, Téa Leoni, Richard E. Grant, Anthony Carrigan

DESCENDENT

Synopsis: After suffering a traumatic brain injury, a father-to-be begins experiencing terrifying visions of extraterrestrials and develops an eerie ability to draw them. As his paranoia grows, he becomes obsessed with protecting his family from an unseen force.

Why We’re Excited: The alien possession subgenre gets a fresh spin, and the cast is stacked. Ross Marquand (The Walking Dead) leads the film, and Peter Cilella, known for both acting and directing, steps behind the camera.

Director: Peter Cilella

Cast: Ross Marquand, Sarah Bolger, Susan Wilder, Brandon Scott

FRIENDSHIP (U.S. Premiere)

Synopsis: Suburban dad Craig’s life spirals out of control when a new neighbor moves in, and his desperate attempts at friendship threaten to destroy them both.

Why We’re Excited: A24 already secured the rights to this Andrew DeYoung comedy, and early reviews are strong. The offbeat premise isn’t giving away too much, so this is one we’ll have to watch closely.

FUCK TOYS

Synopsis: A fever-dream 16mm dark comedy following a woman who, cursed by fate, is told she must sacrifice a baby lamb to break free—leading her into a surreal underworld.

Why We’re Excited: Campy, surreal, and outrageous, this sounds like the kind of chaotic film SXSW thrives on. Annapurna Sriram makes her directorial debut, and if this delivers on its wild premise, it could be the breakout genre film of the festival.

Director: Annapurna Sriram

Cast: Big Freedia, Brandon Flynn, Annapurna Sriram

I REALLY LOVE MY HUSBAND

Synopsis: A newlywed woman, disillusioned with her golden-boy husband, enlists an enigmatic expat to “spice things up”—for better or worse.

Why We’re Excited: GG Hawkins explores relationship taboos in a dark comedy that sounds straight out of a Reddit relationship horror story. With Strange Darling pushing similar themes, I Really Love My Husband could be another surprise hit.

Director: GG Hawkins

THE SURFER (North American Premiere)

Synopsis: A man returns to the beach of his childhood with his son, only to be humiliated by a group of powerful locals, leading to an escalating conflict.

Why We’re Excited: Nicolas Cage in a Point Break-meets-Gran Torino showdown on the beach? Sold. It’s nice to see him battling humans for once.

Director: Lorcan Finnegan

Cast: Nicolas Cage, Julian McMahon, Finn Little

Other Films We’ll Be Covering

In addition to our must-sees, we’ll be checking out:

• THE ACCOUNTANT 2

• THE ASTRONAUT

• CLOWN IN A CORNFIELD

• COTTON CANDY BUBBLE GUM

• DEAD LOVER

• FORGE

• GOOD BOY

• THE HOME

• IT ENDS

• LIFEHACK

• MERMAID

• NEW JACK FURY

• NIGHT FIGHT

• ODYSSEY

• OUTLANDS

• THE PERFECT NEIGHBOR

• REDUX REDUX

• THE SURRENDER

• TOUCH ME

• TRANS MEMORIA

• WE ARE STORROR

• WE BURY THE DEAD

• ZODIAC KILLER PROJECT

Final Thoughts

With SXSW 2025 shaping up to be another incredible year for genre films, we’ll be bringing you updates, first reactions, and reviews in the coming weeks.

🚨 Which films are you most excited for? Drop your thoughts in the comments!

📍 SXSW runs from March 7-15th. Stay tuned for more coverage!

Why This Version Works for Engagement:

• Clear structure makes it easy to skim.

• Stronger hooks make each film sound compelling.

• More conversational tone keeps it engaging.

• Final call-to-action encourages comments & discussion.

This version maintains your voice while making it more polished, engaging, and shareable—perfect for festival hype! 🚀